Putin says Trump can "be my guest" in Moscow, White House welcomes idea

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he wanted President Trump to be his guest in Moscow, an idea that the White House welcomed despite lingering criticism over the Helsinki summit. “President Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the year, and he is open to visiting Moscow upon receiving a formal invitation,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Following the backlash in the United States over Trump’s cordial public tone with Putin in Helsinki, U.S. and Russian officials backed away from Trump’s proposal to schedule a follow-up meeting in Washington in the fall. The White House on Wednesday postponed that invitation until next year, when a federal investigation of Russian election interference could be finished.