Shameful! Disgraceful! A bad day for the United States! The most serious mistake of his presidency! That wasn`t how the usual suspects at CNN and MSNBC characterized the joint press conference Monday by American President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki at the end of their summit. That was the assessment of senior Republicans, even Fox News anchors condemned Trump`s buffoonery.

Trump`s statements at Helsinki were embarrassing, and dare I say it treasonous! Upon his return to America he should have been tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a rail, or at least censured by the Senate.

When even ” Fox and Friends” anchor Brian Kilmeade panned Trump`s performance he knew he had to do or say something, immediately. And so a day after his much-maligned news conference with his BFF Putin, Trump attempted some damage control saying “I accept the findings of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign.” But then he veered off the script that was written for him and suggested that others may have interfered in the election. I guess we`re back to that 400-pound hacker meddling in our elections from his basement.

Nothing`s changed, Trump has claimed to accept the conclusion of our intelligence agencies before, only to almost immediately cast doubts on their loyalty and professionalism.

One of Trump`s most damaging statements at Helsinki was when he said he saw no reason why it WOULD be Russia that interfered. In his ridiculous attempt to clean up his mess he said he meant to say he saw no reason why it WOULDN`T be Russia.

Unfortunately for Trump it wasn`t just one line that ruined an otherwise masterful performance, his entire performance was a travesty. Trump was offered multiple opportunities to speak truth to power, or semi-power, and strongly denounce Russia`s actions, but instead he placed blame on the FBI and said that he had confidence in both parties – the U.S. intelligence community and Russia.

He went so far as to say that Putin`s denial of having been involved in the election was extremely strong and powerful.

Trump`s Helsinki fiasco will live in infamy, his patented strategy of making Americans forget about a colossal blunder by pointing to a shiny object won`t work, he is permanently weakened on the world stage and in the homeland.

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes