Donald Trump Takes Jeff Glor Questions On Vladimir Putin Election Meddling; Attacks Obama
President Donald Trump told CBS Newss Jeff Glor he would hold Russian ruler Vladimir Putin accountab..
President Donald Trump told CBS Newss Jeff Glor he would hold Russian ruler Vladimir Putin accountable for election meddling “because hes in charge of the country.”
In a clip that covered no new ground, that is part of a more extensive interview airing on CBS Evening News tonight, Glor told Trump that he, Trump, had said he agreed with U.S. intelligence that Russia meddled in the election in 2016.
“Yeah and Ive said that before,” Trump said. “Ive said that numerous times before. And I would say that that is true, yeah.”
Trump also continues to say others might have meddled as well, undercutting his intel organizations, but Glor did not get into that in the clip issued by CBS News.
Glor did, however, telling Trump, “But you havent condemned Putin, specifically,” and asked POTUS if he holds Putin personally responsible for Russias election interference.
“Well, I would, because hes in charge of the country,” Trump said. “Just like I hold myself to be responsible for things that happen in this country.”
“So certainly, as the leader of a country, you would have to hold him responsible, yes.”
Glor asked for details of that conversation in Helsinki. Trump met with Putin for more than 2 hours with no other American present except a State Department translator.
“Very strong on the fact that we cant have meddling, we cant have any of that,” Trump offered. “Now, look. Were also living in a grown-up world.”
If you put your money on this being the point in the interview at which Trump deflected the talk to attack Obama, congratulations:
“Will a strong statement – you know – President Obama supposedly made a strong statement,” Trump continued. “Nobody heard it. What they did hear is a statement he made to Putins very close friend. And that statement was not acceptable. Didnt get very much play relatively speaking. But that statement was not acceptable. But I let him know we cant have this, were not going to have it, and thats the way its going to be.”
Youll have to watch tonight to see if Glor asks Trump to elaborate on that Obama jab.
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