McConnell, Cornyn question Trump’s invitation to Putin

Senators question the invitation

A group of senators, including seven Republicans, sent an open letter Friday to President Trump questioning his invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sens. Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn joined the effort.

The senators expressed “serious concern” about inviting Putin to attend the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami later this year. Their letter asked Trump to explain why he extended the invitation while Russia remains at war with Ukraine.

The request places the senators’ objection and their demand for an explanation in a public document. It also puts the focus on Trump’s reason for including Putin at the international gathering despite Russia’s continued actions in Ukraine.

What the letter does

The open letter asks Trump to account for a foreign policy decision involving the planned summit. It does not carry the force of a law or a congressional vote, but it allows participating senators to press the president publicly for an explanation.

The letter concerns the invitation itself and Putin’s possible attendance at the Miami summit later this year. Trump’s explanation, the status of the invitation and whether Putin plans to attend are the next parts of the process to watch.

The dispute is not directly connected to a candidate race or election. It centers on U.S. foreign policy, Russia’s war with Ukraine and the president’s approach to participation in the G20 gathering.