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One day after signing a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea, President Donald Trump lashed out at his own party inone of his signature morning tweetstorms, blamingRepublican members of Congress for the deteriorating relations between Russia and the United States.

The accusation follows several messages from Russian officials needling Trump after he signed the sanctions bill,messages seeminglytailor-made to get under his skin.

On Capitol Hill on Thursday, senators were confused and irritated at the presidents finger-pointing, noting that the sanctions bill passed by a large, veto-proof margin on a bipartisan basis and was signed by President Trump himself. Republican lawmakers stressed to TPM that it was the Russian actionsthat inspired the sanctions, not the sanctions themselves, that are to blame.

We have bad relations with Russia because theyve done bad things, emphasized Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). What were trying to do is put pressure on a nation that has interfered with our elections, that is trying to relive the Soviet Union days, and its absolutely appropriate for a co-equal branch of Congress to make it very clear that the American people we represent think that Russia needs to be held in check. The president rightful takes the lead on the issue, but thats not to the exclusion of us asserting our own position on Russia and their bad actions.

Defending the steps Congress took last week, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) said Russias meddling in other nations as well as the U.S. spurred them to act. The fact that it refuses to get out of Ukraine. The fact that it violated any number of international norms with its behavior and cyberattacksplain and simple, he said.

Even lawmakerswho usually defend the president, such asSen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), hit back Thursday over the Russia blame. I think our strained relationship with Russia started in 1917, didnt it? With the Communist Revolution? Shelby quipped to reporters. Its ebbed and flowed since, but I dont see how its Congress fault.

Its completely Putins fault,Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) added.

If Trump thought the legislation was so damaging to international relations, several senators wondered, why didnt he veto the bill when it came to his desk?

I think he signed it, didnt he? Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) told TPM with a smile when asked about the presidents tweet. His grin fading, he added more soberly: The bottom line is that Russia is to blame with for the relations with Russia deteriorating.

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Bewildered Senate Republicans Hit Back At Trump For Russia Blame - TPM