Conway: Trump Believes the Assessment of the Intel Communities on Russian Meddling
So let’s move on to Russia. I want to get clarity on President Trump’s position on Russia and election interference. He said Saturday on Air Force One that every time he sees Vladimir Putin, Putin says, I didn’t do that. And I believe, I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. He tried to clarify that in a press conference overnight. Let’s listen.
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TRUMP: I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election. As to whether I believe it or not, I’m with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with their leadership. I believe in our intel agencies, our intelligence agencies.
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RADDATZ: Those two statements seem to contradict each other. Which is it?
CONWAY: No, it’s what I — I can’t imagine the president could be more explicit. He said yesterday as he said today that when President Putin says it, President Putin means it. He means that they didn’t interfere. What the president said...
RADDATZ: So, he thinks he’s just delusional, President Putin?
CONWAY: No, he didn’t use that word. He said that President Putin believes it. What the president believes is most important here. He believes the assessment of the intelligence communities. And he stands by that. He’s very respectful of that. Director Pompeo of the CIA said the same thing.
And so this president has formed his judgment about that issue based on the intelligence communities in this country.
And he also — you know, the president is not the chairman of the board of elections in this country, he’s the president of the United States. He wants to deal with President Putin and other world leaders as he has for two weeks right now, Martha, on major issues like global security, on trade, perhaps, on — in other countries, on combating ISIS, on a nuclearized North Korea.
Most Americans watching this show and everywhere in this country now appreciate having a strong leader who is willing to take his counsel from the — along with the international community and put the case right to North Korea and say to Putin, and say to Xi, and say to Abe, and say to others — and then Moon, join with us in making sure the nuclearized North Korea...
