MSNBC conducts interview with Russian official that feels like set up with each question

Speaking with John Heilemann, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova opened by saying “thank God” Donald Trump is President of the United States.

Heilemann followed up, asking why Zakharova feels that way.

“Because you admit the fact that he’s an American president,” she said. “Because we’re talking so much [about] Russian so-called involvement in your elections. And each time, I’m very, very pleased to hear that somebody is admitting that President Trump is President of [the] United States.”

The Showtime host then asked — in an interview conducted before the U.S. air strike — how Russia would respond to an American attack on Syria.

“Russia will protect its own people on the ground,” Zakharova said, tersely.

Later, Heilemann said, “I think that the conventional view in the West, however, is that your president has become more aggressive.”

“Where did you find aggression from Russian Federation?” Zakharova said. “Just show me.”