WASHINGTON, October 21. /TASS/. Those in the United States who called for more sanctions on Russia are "stupid people," US President Donald Trump said.

"So let's say we did what a lot of stupid people wanted me to do. A lot of really stupid people. I took a lot of heat. ‘Oh, why don't you do this?’ They didn't even know what it was," he told reporters at the White House.

Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to release US national Stephen Hubbard, convicted of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, Trump said: "If we did what these foolish people wanted me to do, he wouldn't be coming out right now. He'd be in there for another 20 years."

Trump’s political opponents have recently been criticizing him for his decision not to implement new legislation providing for sanctions on Russia and its trading partners.