Trump and Putin discussed creating an "impenetrable Cyber Security unit" -- but it's not happening

The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was always going to generate a great deal of interest. After the two presidents had their first (official) meeting on Friday, Trump tweeted on Sunday that the pair has discussed "forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit."

Considering Trump has accused Russia of hacking the US election, such an arrangement would seem unlikely. Nonetheless, the topic was broached. It was brought up "so that election hacking, & many other negative things, will be guarded and safe." But it didn’t take Trump long to back down from the idea.

It was a full two days after his talks with president Putin that Trump took to Twitter to share his views with the world. He said: "I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it. I've already given my opinion....."

But it is the tweet about the creation of an American/Russian cyber security force that has attracted attention:

Putin & I discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, & many other negative things, will be guarded..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017

Unsurprisingly, the Twitterverse balked at the idea -- as did much of the media and many politicians. Shortly afterwards, Trump had a little more to say on the matter:

The fact that President Putin and I discussed a Cyber Security unit doesn't mean I think it can happen. It can't-but a ceasefire can,& did!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2017

It's unlikely we'll ever know exactly what was discussed, and to what extent, between the two leaders. Trump's Twitter twaddle gives a one-sided insight into things, but his tweets are often more a cause for concern rather than a helpful narrative.

Image credit: Willrow Hood / Shutterstock