Lawmakers are criticizing President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many expected Trump to challenge Putin on the topic of election meddling.

But in front of Putin and with the whole world watching Monday, the president cast doubt again on the Russian election interference investigation.          

"So, I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that president Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today," Trump said.

The president all but accepted what he thought was an incredible offer by Putin: to have Russian investigators working on the special counsel's newly announced indictments of Russian hackers, who are also government officials.

Back home, Republicans are voicing their disapproval.

"What the president said today is inaccurate," said Sen. Marco Rubio. "The intelligence community has assembled probably an unparalleled amount of evidence in regards to the Russians, not just the interference in 2016 but ongoing efforts to interfere in American society."

Central Florida congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, a former national security specialist for the defense department, tweeted, "While every patriotic American wants to see U.S.-Russia relations improve in a way that advances U.S. interests, that will only happen if president Trump holds Putin's Russia accountable."

 

 

During the presser, a protester had to be escorted out. Seated with the American press corps, he held a sign about nuclear weapons.

The president tweeted Monday afternoon, trying to explain himself again, but many lawmakers think the damage was done.