President Trump diagnoses critics with 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' as backlash over Putin meeting grows

President Trump blamed his very bad week on critics Wednesday, accusing them of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and promising “big results” from his face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Some people HATE the fact that I got along well with President Putin of Russia. They would rather go to war than see this. It’s called Trump Derangement Syndrome!” Trump tweeted.

The line, recently used by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in defending the President, is a favorite among Trump supporters. The term, originally “Bush Derangement Syndrome,” was coined by conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer describing liberal reactions to President George W. Bush.

Trump’s defensive measures come amid intense criticism over his overtly warm meeting with the Kremlin leader earlier this week where he appeared to accept Putin’s denial that Russia attempted to meddle in the 2016 election.

More on the Helsinki summit:

On Tuesday, Trump attempted to clarify matters by claiming he misspoke when he appeared with Putin and said he didn’t “see any reason why it would be" Russia that interfered in the election, casting doubt on the findings of the U.S. intelligence community.

The President, who has repeatedly shrugged off the near-universally accepted fact that the Kremlin was behind an intense covert operation meant to sway the 2016 contest in Trump’s favor, also tweeted Wednesday that “people at the higher ends of intelligence loved” his press conference with Putin in Helsinki, Finland.

“So many people at the higher ends of intelligence loved my press conference performance in Helsinki,” he wrote. “Putin and I discussed many important subjects at our earlier meeting. We got along well which truly bothered many haters who wanted to see a boxing match. Big results will come!”