Da Nang, Vietnam (CNN) – President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday he’s done confronting Russian President Vladimir Putin over his country’s election meddling since it’s insulting to the Russian leader.
Trump said he took Putin at his word that Russia did not seek to interfere in the US presidential election last year, despite a finding from US intelligence agencies that it did. The fraught relations between the two leaders was underscored anew when Putin’s spokesman said election meddling did not come up when they spoke, even though Trump said it did.
And he stressed that bigger issues persist between the United States and Russia that require the two leaders to move on.
“He said he didn’t meddle. He said he didn’t meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew from Da Nang to Hanoi in Vietnam. Trump spoke to Putin three times on the sidelines of summit here, where the Russia meddling issue arose.
“Every time he sees me, he says, ‘I didn’t do that,'” Trump said. “And I believe, I really believe, that when he tells me that, he means it.” “I think he is very insulted by it,” Trump added.
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"He said he didn't meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times. I really believe he means it." https://t.co/GN0Wckxlk4
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 11, 2017
It's a shame Putin didn't just come to Congress and testify from the outset. Would have cleared the air about everything. https://t.co/W1k0TdZ3Ei
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) November 11, 2017
Just when I think my capacity to be surprised has been exhausted, Pres Trump declares that he accepts Putin's word (over CIA's) that he never interfered in our election & worries the Russian leader feels insulted by charge to contrary
— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) November 11, 2017
CIA just told me: The Dir stands by and has always stood by the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment entitled: Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections. The intelligence assessment with regard to Russian election meddling has not changed.
— Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) November 11, 2017
There's nothing "America First" about taking the word of KGB colonel over US intelligence community. There's no "principled realism" in cooperating w/ Russia to prop up murderous Assad regime. To believe otherwise is naive & places nat'l security at risk. https://t.co/SYiVHtHXPX
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) November 11, 2017
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