On Russia

Sided with Putin's denial over U.S. intelligence agencies on election interference at Helsinki

“My people came to me—Dan Coats came to me and some others—they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin; he just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be, but I really do want to see the server.”

Said: July 16, 2018, Joint news conference with Vladimir Putin, Helsinki, Finland
Subject: Helsinki summit
Type: Intelligence and security
Topic: Elections
Era: First term

What happened

On the morning of the summit Trump wrote that relations with Russia had 'NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!' At the news conference, days after the Justice Department indicted 12 Russian agents for hacking Democrats in 2016, he was asked whether he believed U.S. intelligence agencies or Putin. He said he did not see any reason why it would be Russia, that Putin 'was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today', and that he held 'both countries responsible' for the state of relations. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats issued a statement the same day, without White House clearance, standing by the assessment of Russian meddling and 'their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy'. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Trump 'must appreciate that Russia is not our ally', and Senator John McCain called the performance 'one of the most disgraceful' by an American president in memory. On July 17 Trump said he had meant to say 'wouldn't' rather than 'would', that he accepted the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled, and added: 'Could be other people also.'

Sources

The President's News Conference With President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of Russia in Helsinki, Finland The American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara), Jul 16, 2018
Tweets of July 16, 2018 The American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara), Jul 16, 2018
Remarks in a Meeting With Republican Members of Congress and an Exchange With Reporters The American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara), Jul 17, 2018
Trump sides with Putin over US intelligence CNN, Jul 16, 2018
Trump clashes with intelligence chief over Russian threat CNN, Jul 16, 2018
Top Republicans in Congress break with Trump over Putin comments CNN, Jul 16, 2018
John McCain: Trump gave 'one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory' CNN, Jul 16, 2018