Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:46 pm
President-elect Donald Trump couldn’t help himself and dug the hole deeper by spending Saturday morning offering up a full-throated defense of Russia and their hacking during the US presidential election.
Trump tweeted:
Intelligence stated very strongly there was absolutely no evidence that hacking affected the election results. Voting machines not touched!
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2017
Only reason the hacking of the poorly defended DNC is discussed is that the loss by the Dems was so big that they are totally embarrassed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2017
Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only "stupid" people, or fools, would think that it is bad! We…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2017
have enough problems around the world without yet another one. When I am President, Russia will respect us far more than they do now and….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2017
both countries will, perhaps, work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the WORLD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2017
The president-elect of the United States of America responded to a consensus agreement by the nation’s intelligence community that a hostile foreign actor interfered in an election to get their preferred candidate installed by defending the hostile foreign actor and claiming that a good relationship with a leader who is committed to destroying democracy is a good thing.
Trump claims that Putin will respect the US more, but it is interesting to ask what the president-elect means by respect? If he means respect as allowing Russia to do whatever they please while they say nice things about a weak-kneed stooge who is bowled over by flattery, then yes, that is the kind of “respect” that Trump will earn for the US.
A president-elect who cared about democracy would be outraged and join the calls for a select committee to launch an investigation. They would not defend the hostile foreign actors while trying to bury the investigation.
Trump is setting Republicans on a course for making a choice between the US and Russia. By continuing to defend Russia, Trump is keeping the scandal alive and is one piece of direct evidence of collusion with a hostile foreign actor away from impeachment.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association