If you wanted any further proof that Russia/regime propaganda influences the US President’s decision-making (from my story in @thesundaytimes this weekend): 
This summer UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt pitched the idea of rescuing some of the White Helmets in southern Syria to the US President
Trump was unsure. He said he had heard “conflicting reports” about whether the White Helmets were “good guys” or not
These “conflicting reports” are fabricated by Russian and regime propaganda organs and their cheerleaders to sow doubt and confusion, particularly in the west
They paint the White Helmets as terrorists, rather than volunteer rescue workers, using doctored photos and useful idiots to support them
Hunt convinced Trump that the white helmets were, in fact, “good guys” and the president eventually signed off on the rescue plan. Lucky for them he got there first. It seems like he could have been easily persuaded either way
I repeat: The UK foreign secretary had to tell the US president that Russia/regime propaganda about the White Helmets wasn’t real, because the president couldn’t make that judgement by himself. That is terrifying. Merry Christmas
