President Trump blames slip of the tongue for shocking Russia comments
US President Donald Trump has sensationally backflipped on comments he made following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Trump has come under a firestorm of criticism for supporting Putin’s claims Russia didn’t meddle in the US election.
At the Helsinki Summit, the President cast doubt on US intelligence agencies, saying:
“He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be.”
His comments came just days after 12 Russians were indicted on charges for hacking the Democrats campaign during the 2016 US election.
Following widespread condemnation from both sides of politics, America’s leader has backtracked and claims a slip of the tongue is to blame:
“The sentence should’ve been: ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.'”
President Trump on Monday: “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.”
President Trump on Tuesday: “The sentence should’ve been: ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.'”https://t.co/36h1wG29Om pic.twitter.com/bWUz04coAI
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 17, 2018
The President says media is misreporting the meeting between the two global powers and insists he has “great confidence” in America’s intelligence agencies.
As I said today and many times before, “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.” However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past – as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, we must get along! #HELSINKI2018
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
Macquarie Radio’s Andrew Bolt tells Steve Price he isn’t buying the US President’s slip of the tongue defence.
“I find it a little improbable, but I think too much is being made of it in the first place.”
Andrew says the entire ordeal has been blown way out of proportion, but the American President missed an opportunity to confront Russia’s leader.
“I think he was weak in not standing up more firmly to Putin, with Putin standing next to him.
“The Russians clearly did meddle in the US election, he should have just said straight out that’s what happened.”
Click PLAY below to hear from Andrew Bolt
Image: NBC News