The Note: Trump's Putin Praise Continues

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September 9, 2016

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Trump's Putin Praise Continues

Trump on Putin

Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump praised Vladimir Putin during NBC News' "Commander-In-Chief Forum" -- he said the Russian president is "stronger" than President Obama -- the Republican presidential nominee was interviewed over the phone by the Kremlin-backed TV network RT. But the interview -- conducted by Larry King on his show "Politicking" -- ended on a strange note after about 10 minutes, when King asked Trump, "On this immigration issue, what are your feelings about Mexican immigrants? What in your gut do you feel about this?" Trump's response? Radio silence. More from ABC's DAVID CAPLAN: http://abcn.ws/2chVD0Z

Trump on Clinton

In his interview with King, Trump addresses several other topics, including Hillary Clinton, whom he surprisingly did not disparage. King asked, "You personally don't dislike her?" "No. It's not about liking or disliking," Trump said. "I mean, I wish she did a phenomenal job, and we wouldn't have all these problems." He added, "The bottom line is, Larry, she doesn't have what it takes." http://abcn.ws/2chVD0Z

Clinton Stresses Importance of Ties to Black Churches

Hillary Clinton stressed her connections to the historically black churches last night, taking a veiled shot at Republican rival, Donald Trump, who made his first trip to a black church on the campaign trail this past weekend and has been making a pitch for the African-American vote, ABC's MEGHAN KENEALLY and LIZ KREUTZ notes. "I am sure some of you are sick and tired of politicians who just show up at election time...you and your congregations deserve more," Clinton said at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. "I happen to be a born and raised Methodist but I've been married to a Southern Baptist for more than 40 years." http://abcn.ws/2c38EOe

Analysis - ABC's RICK KLEIN

In a season of the bizarre, is there anything stranger – not to mention ominous, and potentially downright terrifying – about the way Russia has come up in this campaign? From the business ties of Donald Trump and his close advisers, to allegations of hacking of political entities by Russian operatives, to Trump's lavishing of praise on Vladimir Putin, this election feels like more of a Cold War flashback than "The Americans." Add to all of this Trump's interview with Larry King on RT – Russia's state-funded television outlet – where he defended the Russians against allegations that they were involved in the hacks (and where Trump goes strangely silent when asked about Mexican immigrants) … and what exactly is going on here? At its most innocuous, this is Trump proving that he takes advice from no one – unless someone sees an upside in cozying up to Putin. In the view of some Democrats and even Republicans, it's a display of naiveté about statecraft. Or, for a candidate whose finances remain opaque so long as his tax returns aren't released, it's something else entirely. In any event, can the would-be heir to Reagan's legacy be known as the candidate who is taking Russia's side?

Happening Today -- Chelsea Clinton on 'The View'

ABC's "The View" wraps up premiere week of Season 20 welcoming Chelsea Clinton to the Hot Topics table. She makes her first national television appearance since returning to the campaign trail with her mother. The former first daughter will discuss the election as the race for the Oval Office narrows, life on the campaign trail and motherhood. This marks her first appearance on "The View" (11AM ET).

This Week on 'This Week'

Trump campaign adviser and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani comes to "This Week" Sunday. Plus, on the 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson reflects on 9/11 and the latest threats to the U.S. And the Powerhouse Roundtable debates the week in politics, with Rep. Marsha Blackburn, (R-TN), Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Bloomberg Politics managing editor John Heilemann, ABC News contributor and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

In the Note's Inbox: Pro-Trump PAC Releases New Benghazi Video

A pro-Trump group, the Defeat Crooked Hillary PAC, is out with a new digital ad today tied to Hillary Clinton's comments at the Commander-in-Chief forum earlier this week when she said, "we did not lose a single American" in military action in Libya. The 15-second digital ad titled "Dishonorable," begins running today on Facebook and Twitter with a more than $10,000 digital promotion budget, according to the group. Defeat Crooked Hillary PAC Communications Director, Hogan Gidley said in a statement: "It's shockingly grotesque that Hillary Clinton refuses to admit four Americans were murdered in Libya and for her to keep repeating this deeply offensive lie dishonors the memories of the dead....Now, in a room full of military veterans, she won't even admit the deaths occurred. It's inexplicable." WATCH: https://youtu.be/bIQj_3SO_4Y