intelligence community under the bus like that. >> reporter: and before the president left helsinki, the republican chairman of the senate foreign relations committee unloaded on him -- >> the president's comments made us look as a nation more like a pushover. >> reporter: the top democrat went so far to suggest that putin must have something on trump. >> the americans are scratching their heads and saying, if that is not the explanation that putin has something on him, what is it? what the heck could it be? >> reporter: weighing in from arizona, senator john mccain called the president's press conference a "tragic mistake." and quote, one of the most disgraceful performances by an american president in memory. no prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. and then the reaction on the president's favorite cable news channel. >> that's what made his performance disgusting, i'm sorry that's the only way i feel. not a right or left thing. it's just wrong. >> reporter: newt gingrich, he