By Dustin Rowles | Politics | July 17, 2018 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | July 17, 2018 |
From Reuters, reporting from a pool spray before Trump met with Congress:
Trump says Russia actions had no impact on outcome of elections, accepts U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia meddling took place. Trump says he meant to say in Helsinki that he saw no reason why it would not be Russia that interfered in elections. Trump says his administration will move aggressively to repel any efforts to interfere in 2018 election.
You’ve got to be kidding me. What he meant to say was the exact opposite of exactly what he said?
President Trump claims he meant to say "I don't see any reason why it WOULDN'T be Russia" yesterday in Helsinki pic.twitter.com/kwfJQHfCWs
— Axios (@axios) July 17, 2018
OK, Donny.
Also, this:
Fox anchor begins reading what she says is Trump's statement that he accepts the intel community's finding about Russia - then stumbles, with evident frustration, when she gets to the part where he apparently said it could "also" have been non-Russia countries.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 17, 2018
His exact quote during the pool spray: “I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place. Could be other people also. A lot of people out there.”
He just can’t bring himself to blame Russia, can he?
In summary: 1) Trump is attempting one of the most implausible political clarifications in recent American history. 2) Midway through the ludicrous clarification, Trump reiterated much of the original point he was theoretically clarifying.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 17, 2018
Remember what Obama said just earlier today?
“We see the utter loss of shame among political leaders where they’re caught in a lie and they just double-down and they lie some more.”
Exactly.