Republicans struggle to explain Trump's fondness for 'murderer and thug' Putin Many senators returning from the summer recess distanced themselves from Trump’s comments praising the Russian president in a national security forum https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/16fb0e5d58367f504d1bd0f5402918b358d1496d/0_0_2560_1536/master/2560.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=d07da44e011a6e14632f6e06828840c1 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/08/trump-putin-senate-republicans-marco-rubio-john-mccain