Key word is "ALMOST."
So is Putin America's friend or not?
Has America's relationship with Russia been at its worst up until Trump's recent meeting with his KGBFF? Worst than in the Cold War Era, because Trump seems to think so...and he just saved America.
No he's not.
Putin is for putin
but yes...Obama, Bush and Clinton definitely harmed our relations with Russia, in any number of ways .
Yes...Trump made it a little better.
And everything you read about the Helsinki summit was grossly biased.
Hold Trump to the same standards as Obama.
no more no less.
famous quote from 19th-century U.K. prime minister Lord Palmerston that phrases it well: "England has no eternal friends, England has no perpetual enemies, England has only eternal and perpetual interests."
same with Russia...same with the US...the same for all countries.
countries don't have friends or enemies..they have interests and they'll do many things to promote those interests...including going to war.