Trump Thanks Putin for Expelling Diplomats; Says "It Will Save a Lot of Money"

After both houses of Congress passed legislation to impose sanctions on Russia, which Donald Trump eventually signed into law, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had threatened retaliation if the bill passed, began to make good on his threat, seizing two U.S. diplomatic properties in Moscow and ordering the U.S. Embassy to reduce its staff by September.

Yesterday, Trump was asked about Putin's retaliatory move, and he gave an absolutely incredible answer: He was grateful to Putin, because expelling our diplomats will "save a lot of money."

I thanked Putin for kicking Americans out of Russia. I decided to show American weakness, which was the LAST thing that Putin expected! Win! pic.twitter.com/IwTJXaG8eP

— Donald J. Trump (@RealDonaldTrFan) August 11, 2017

Male reporter, off-camera: Mr. President, do you have any response to the Russian president expelling 755 workers from our embassies?

Trump: No, I want to thank him, because we're trying to cut down on payroll. And, as far as I'm concerned, I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people, because now we have a smaller payroll. There's no real reason for them to go back, so I greatly appreciate the fact that they've been able to cut our payroll for the United States. It will save a lot of money.

Undoubtedly, the spin will be that Trump was just "joking," not that he gave any indication of that at all during this statement. And it's certainly unclear what the punchline is meant to be. That the "jobs president" really doesn't give a fuck about jobs after all? That Trump is intractably hostile to the value of diplomacy? That Putin chose the president and is now making employment decisions for the federal government? Oh my aching sides.

Career diplomats sure don't seem to have found any humor in Trump's response:

A senior U.S. diplomat serving overseas called Trump's remarks "outrageous" and said it could lead more State Department staffers to head for the exits.

"This is so incredibly demoralizing and disrespectful to people serving their country in harm's way," the diplomat said.

"I kid you not, I have heard from three different people in the last five minutes," one State Department official told POLITICO shortly after Trump's comments. "Everyone seems pretty amazed. This statement is naive and shortsighted. It sends a terrible signal to local employees everywhere."

"THANK Putin?" another bewildered State Department official responded. "I don't have words that are printable to describe my reaction."

Trump is truly the worst president this nation has ever seen.

Between Trump alienating our allies by being a belligerent jackass and spilling secrets to the Russians, gutting the State Department, and ensuring that career diplomats have every reason to hit the eject button on continuing to serve their nation, our foreign relations have never been in worse shape — and it's only going to get worse from here.

Conservatives have long spoken about their desire to destroy the federal government. Well, it looks like we're on our way. How does it feel to have your wildest dreams come true, assholes?