The pragmatic in me, says that Trump has a reason for doing this, and it has nothing to do with whether or not Russia has anything to do with elections meddling.
In his tiny mind, he thinks he's pulling a con on the Russians and Chinese. He thinks by tossing his own intelligence services under the bus, and stating publicly that he creamed his pants in admiration of how the Chinese "raped" the USA (rape is his own word), Xi and Putin are now his buddies, and will give him something in return, mainly a win over N. Korea and better access to Chinese markets.
This is really naïve. Putin did not fall off the turnip truck and Xi did not rise to his position by accident.
In the meanwhile, and as Trump gets high on sleeping in the White House, he already gave control over Syria back to the Russians, and over N. Korea to the Chinese.
What he does not realize, is that the Chinese are in the position of power, because Trump told them 1) they're in the driver seat; 2) Russia has been sidelined - Syria for N. Korea. This is the art of how not to strike a deal, and shows incredible ignorance of international issues.
As to those who think it's cool to support Assad, because he's the best weapon against ISIS, forget the side deal Trump just cut with the Saudis. It's not about ISIS, it's about the ideology, and the Saudis are the root of the evil tree.
Of course, the Evangelicals will remain on board, because they think Assad is protecting the Christians of Syria, have no clue. Assad's family, starting with his father, is responsible for the deaths of more than 50,000 Christians in Lebanon, in the most horrible of ways, and the jailing and decades long torture of thousands of Lebanese Christians.
One thing about Assad though, what he's got in common with Trump: they know who #1 is and will toss anyone under the bus, in defense of #1.
