But even as Trump’s appeared highly reluctant to come to the conclusion that Putin is playing him, Republican lawmakers have been doing it for him. They’ll often dress it up in order to avoid alienating Trump, but they’re painting a picture of a US president who’s been had.

“President Trump wants to make sure that he is giving every opportunity for peace to get this war resolved. But Putin is playing him right now,” Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said Wednesday, before adding: “And I think the president understands that.” Sen. Thom Tillis made similar comments.