CNN anchor Jake Tapper said Wednesday that President Trump has been harsher to journalists, including himself, than he has been to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“President Trump, to this day, has said nastier things publicly about me, Don Lemon, Chuck Todd, Meryl Streep and the cast of Hamilton than he has of former KGB operative and current human rights repressor Vladimir Putin,” Tapper said on air.

{mosads}

Trump has attacked all of the people listed by Tapper.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Trump had congratulated Putin on winning reelection after his national security team had warned him against doing so. Aides included the words “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” in Trump’s briefing materials.

Trump is reportedly furious that the briefing materials leaked.

Trump defended congratulating Putin in a pair of tweets Wednesday, saying that “getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing.” 

I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing…….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018

…..They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the “smarts.” Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018