Now Trump says Russia did meddle in poll
DONALD Trump has backtracked on comments he made at his summit with Russian premier Vladimir Putin that his country had no impact on the American presidential elections.
The US President claimed he mixed up his words at their joint press conference on Monday, and instead meant to say he saw no reason why it was not Russia that interfered in the 2016 election.
He said at the White House last night that he was completely behind the US intelligence agencies and accepted their conclusions that Russia had meddled in the vote.
‘The full faith and support for America’s intelligence agencies – I have a full faith in our intelligence agencies,’ he said, adding that Russian actions had no impact on the outcome of the vote and the administration
‘I have full faith in our intelligence agencies’
would work aggressively to protect the November 2018 congressional elections.
While standing alongside Mr Putin in Helsinki on Monday, Mr Trump was asked if he believed the conclusions of US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election in a bid to help him defeat his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton.
He said he was not convinced it was Moscow, saying: ‘I don’t see any reason why it would be. President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial.’
Mr Trump yesterday hit back at criticism of his meeting with Mr Putin. He said the summit was ‘even better’ than his meeting with Nato allies last week in Brussels.
Mr Trump’s backers, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, have attacked his performance.
Mr Trump tweeted yesterday: ‘While I had a great meeting with Nato, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia.’ He added: ‘Sadly, it is not being reported that way – the Fake News is going Crazy!’
As Mr Trump spoke yesterday, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly accidentally turned off the lights by leaning on the switch. The President joked: ‘Whoops, they just turned off the lights – that must be the intelligence agencies. That was strange.’
A US Secret Service agent who suffered a stroke while protecting Donald Trump during his visit to Scotland has died.
The man died in hospital, surrounded by his family, early yesterday after falling ill on Sunday at the Trump Turnberry resort.
The Secret Service thanked medics and police for the ‘exceptional care’ received by the agent, who has not been named.