Reporting live from the site of the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on Wednesday’s NBC Today, correspondent Keir Simmons promised that “President Trump faces a tough trip here with some uncomfortable conversations.” The reporter hyped how Trump “does not see eye-to-eye with the German chancellor” and that “all eyes will be on that meeting with President Putin.”
Touting that Putin and Trump “talk about each other often,” Simmons proclaimed: “President Putin hailing Mr. Trump ‘outstanding’ before the election. While Mr. Trump declaring Putin ‘a far better leader than President Obama.’” He then snidely remarked: “The allegations of Russian intervention in the election have rocked the leaders’ early romance.”
Simmons also highlighted left-wing protests planned outside the international meeting: “Adding to the tension, Hamburg is preparing for thousands of demonstrators. Already overnight, protests were met with riot police and water cannon.” Moments later, he piled on: “President Trump will be hoping for cheering crowds when he touches down in Poland late tonight. But the Poles and many European leaders will be pushing him to be tough on Russia.”
Wrapping up the critical segment, Simmons feared: “The question, will President Trump get through the next few days without a diplomatic confrontation?”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, political analyst Matthew Dowd was so worried about the President’s overseas trip that he actually compared Trump to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
Meanwhile, appearing on CBS This Morning, Bianna Goldryga of Yahoo News mocked:
Look, the bar is not very high in the sense that if the President doesn’t give away classified information to the Russians, that’s going to be seen as an achievement. If he doesn’t have these photo-ops where he looks like he’s very cordial and comfortable with Vladimir Putin, that will be an achievement as well.
The biased coverage on NBC’s Today was brought to viewers by McDonald’s, LaZBoy, and Toyota.
Here is a full transcript of the July 5 report from Simmons:
7:08 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Along with North Korea, President Trump’s highly-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will also dominate headlines this week, as the two get set to shake hands for the first time this Friday. NBC’s Keir Simmons is in Hamburg, Germany, where the G20 summit will take place. Keir, good morning to you.
KEIR SIMMONS: Hey, Matt, good morning. President Trump faces a tough trip here with some uncomfortable conversations. As Jeremy [Bash] and Kristen [Welker] mentioned, North Korea will inevitably come up when he meets with the Chinese leader here. He does not see eye-to-eye with the German chancellor, who is hosting the G20. But all eyes will be on that meeting with President Putin. A Kremlin official telling me the details of that meeting on Friday are up in the air.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump’s High-Stakes Trip; President Heads to Europe for G20 & Putin Meetings]
The most anticipated meeting of two world leaders in years. On the agenda, the Russians say, terrorism, Ukraine, and one Kremlin leader emphasizing, breaking the impasse in U.S.-Russia relations. President Trump and President Putin have spoken by phone, but the men talk about each other often. President Putin hailing Mr. Trump “outstanding” before the election. While Mr. Trump declaring Putin “a far better leader than President Obama.”
DONALD TRUMP [JANUARY 11]: If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.
SIMMONS: The allegations of Russian intervention in the election have rocked the leaders’ early romance. Trump tweeting criticism, accusing President Obama of doing nothing about Russian meddling and expressing the hope that things will work out between the U.S.A. and Russia. Last month, the Russian president spoke with Megyn Kelly and had this to say about his relationship with President Trump.
VLADIMIR PUTIN: We didn’t have any relationship at all. There was a time when he used to come to Moscow. But you know, I never met with him.
SIMMONS: Adding to the tension, Hamburg is preparing for thousands of demonstrators. Already overnight, protests were met with riot police and water cannon. Fears of a clash between the U.S.A. and Russia, perhaps in Syria, will have many hoping for a constructive meeting. President Putin will be prepared. President trump, the self-styled arch negotiator.
TRUMP [FEBRUARY 16]: I love to negotiate things, I do it really well, and all that stuff. But it’s possible I won’t be able to get along with Putin.
SIMMONS: The power dynamics as they shake hands for the first time will be analyzed around the world.
President Trump will be hoping for cheering crowds when he touches down in Poland late tonight. But the Poles and many European leaders will be pushing him to be tough on Russia.
Other items on the G20 agenda: free trade, climate change and migration. The question, will President Trump get through the next few days without a diplomatic confrontation? Matt?
LAUER: Alright, Keir, thank you very much.
