2:43 p.m. ET, June 8, 2018
McCain, Biden blast Trump for suggesting Russia be re-admitted to the G7
Republican Sen. John McCain and former Vice President Joe Biden both blasted President Trump's suggestion that Russia should be re-admitted to the G7 on Friday.
McCain said: "Vladimir Putin chose to make Russia unworthy of membership in the G-8 by invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea. Nothing he has done since then has changed that most obvious fact...The President has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies."
Biden said: "Putin’s Russia invaded its neighbors, violated our sovereignty by undermining elections, and attacks dissidents abroad. Yet our President wants to reward him with a seat at the table while alienating our closest democratic allies. It makes no sense.
Why Russia was booted: Russia's membership in the influential group was suspended in 2014 after a majority of countries allied against Russia's annexation of Crimea, which Russia continues to hold.
President Trump this morning told reporters Russia should be allowed back into the group: