washington u.s. president donald trump thursday thank russian president vladimir putin order unite state slash diplomatic staff russia remark likely rekindle criticism trump kid-gloves handle putin break nearly two weeks silence putin july 30 order cut u.s. embassy consulate staff nearly two thirds trump say thankful let go large number people small payroll trump say real reason go back go save lot money response putin cold war-style move differ reactions presidents similar circumstances past also clash state department official call moscow order regrettable uncalled-for act thursday state department immediate reaction comment trump make reporters vacation golf club bedminster new jersey congressional committees special counsel investigate conclusions u.s. intelligence agencies russia interfere 2016 election campaign hack methods help trump republican also look possible collusion campaign russian officials moscow repeatedly deny meddle election trump deny campaign collusion putin react new sanction impose u.s. congress reluctantly sign law trump order washington cut 755 1,200 embassy consulate staff september many affect likely local russian staffers also tit-for-tat reaction former president barack obama expel 35 russian diplomats unite state last december intelligence agency report campaign since become president trump consistently call good tie russia decline criticize putin refuse unequivocally embrace conclusions intelligence agencies intend flippant trump remark thursday immediately denounce current former u.s. officials serve republican democratic administrations nicholas burn state department third-ranking official republican president george w. bush call trump comment grotesque joke know good say burn professor harvard university john f. kennedy school government unprecedented president never defend expulsion diplomats state department horrify rattle trump remark say veteran u.s. diplomat serve russia speak condition anonymity heather conley formerly top state department official deal european affairs say expulsions hundreds people important u.s. embassy extraordinary difficult see president could view expulsions positive development form additional remark thursday trump say surprise fbi raid last month home former campaign manager paul manafort add send strong signal trump say give think possibility fire special counsel robert mueller may trump dismiss jam comey director fbi trump go office seven months ago presidential candidate trump invite russia dig thousands miss email democratic rival hillary clinton time secretary state vex intelligence experts prompt democrats accuse urge foreign country spy americans russia listen hope able find 30,000 email miss trump say campaign clinton keep private server 2009 2013. hand thousands email 2015 investigators release 30,000 say personal work-related trump thank putin slash u.s. diplomatic staff