Russia and Putin · 2016 campaign · № 26
Said Putin liking him was 'an asset, not a liability', while conceding 'I think it was Russia' behind the hacking
“Well, if — if Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia.”
- Said
- , President-elect's news conference, Trump Tower, New York
- Subject
- Putin's preference
- Type
- Praise and deference
- Topic
- Elections
- Era
- 2016 campaign
What happened
It was Trump's first news conference after the January 6 assessment that Putin had ordered the influence campaign and preferred him. He said, 'As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. But I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people,' and, when a reporter noted the concession, 'All right, but you know what, it could have been others also.' Asked whether he accepted the finding that Putin acted to help him and whether he would undo Obama's sanctions, he gave the answer above and added, 'Now, I don't know that I'm gonna get along with Vladimir Putin. I hope I do. But there's a good chance I won't.' Four days earlier he had tweeted: '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!'