Standing next to Putin, Trump just publicly backed Russia over the US intelligence community on the Kremlin's election meddling

pulse

July 16, 2018 5:47 PM

President Donald Trump said Monday he believes Russia over the US intelligence community when it comes to the Kremlin's meddling in the 2016 election. Asked whether he would publicly condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for its interference, Trump bashed the DNC, Hillary Clinton, and the FBI.

Standing next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference on Monday, US President Donald Trump indicated that he believes Russia over the US intelligence community when it comes to the Kremlin's meddling in the 2016 election.
When asked whether he would publicly condemn Putin for Russia's interference, Trump proceeded to bash the Democratic National Committee, former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and the FBI.
Trump said that while he has "great confidence" in the US intelligence community, Putin was "extremely strong and powerful" in his denial of Russian meddling.

Following a high-stakes one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, US President Donald Trump refused to say that he trusted the US intelligence community, bashed the FBI and the Democratic National Committee, and indicated that he believed Putin over American intelligence agencies.

Trump's comments came after Associated Press reporter Jonathan Lemire asked him who he believed during a joint press conference with Putin, and whether Trump would publicly denounce Russia's interference in the 2016 election and warn him never to do it again.

Trump declined to do so and proceeded to pin the blame on the US.

"We have two thoughts," Trump said. "You have groups that are wondering why the FBI hasn't taken the [DNC] server. Why haven't they taken the server? Why was the FBI told to leave the office of the DNC? I've been wondering that."

He added: "With that being said, all I can do is ask the question. My people came to me … they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia."

"I will say this," Trump said. "I don't see any reason why it would be."

He then went on to denigrate Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and his 2016 election rival.

"What happened to Hillary Clinton's emails?" he said. "33,000 emails gone, just gone. I think in Russia they wouldn't be gone so easily."

Trump said that while he had "great confidence" in the US intelligence community, Putin "was extremely strong and powerful in his denial" of Russian election meddling.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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