search
Sections List
American Journal News

Donald Trump rejects entire intelligence community in new defense of Russia

White House press secretary Sean Spicer recently refused to answer whether Donald Trump believes Russia attempted to influence our election. Spicer claimed he hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to the president about it — a shocking admission, given that the intelligence community started investigating such attempts before Trump was even in office. Fortunately for […]

By Kaili Joy Gray - June 22, 2017
Share
Donald Trump

Spicer claimed he hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to the president about it — a shocking admission, given that the intelligence community started investigating such attempts before Trump was even in office.

Fortunately for Spicer, now he doesn’t have to bother finding the time to ask his boss whether he believes the 16 intelligence agencies who have all concluded that the Russians did in fact try to meddle in our election. Because, in typical Trumpian fashion, the president has taken to Twitter to spell it out:

That the Russians tried to influence our 2016 election is simply not in dispute. It is a fact, made clear over and over again through congressional testimony by current and former members of the intelligence community. There is also evidence that Russia launched cyberattacks on our voting systems in 39 states.

And a majority of Americans believe it too.

That Trump continues to defend Russia — and, therefore, to publicly discredit America’s own intelligence agencies for all the world to see — is appalling. But it is what we have come to expect from him. Trump, during his brief time in the Oval Office, has repeatedly insulted and threatened our closest allies while praising some of the world’s most brutal dictators.

It is impossible to know why Trump would continue to suggest Russia’s innocence. But we do know that he and others in his administration have shown no interest in understanding Russia’s actions during the election.

Former FBI Director James Comey testified that he did not “remember any conversations with the president about the Russia election interference.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions admitted that he had not requested any briefings on Russia’s interference, saying, “I only know what I read in the papers.”

And of course it is absurd to suggest that the Obama administration took no actions in the face of Russia’s interference. In August 2016, based on evidence that Russia was trying to hack our election systems, the Obama administration attempted to designate those systems as “national critical infrastructure.” Republican leaders in Congress, however, “balked” at the suggestion.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also warned the administration that “he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly an act of partisan politics.”

If Trump wants someone to blame for the U.S. government not doing enough to stop Russia’s interference, which Trump apparently does not even believe happened, he should take a long hard look at his own party.

And if he really does not believe that this happened — that a foreign government tried to hijack our democracy and install its preferred candidate in the White House — he should schedule a briefing or two with someone from any of the 16 intelligence agencies who can explain it to him.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

By Jesse Valentine - March 10, 2025
Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

By - February 28, 2025
Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

By Jesse Valentine - February 27, 2025
Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2025
Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

By Jesse Valentine - February 13, 2025