President Trump sparked controversy on July 16 by proclaiming in a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia didn’t interfere in the 2016 United States election. Trump walked back those comments on July 17.
When asked during the July 16 press conference if he believed Putin or the intelligence community on Russia meddling, Trump responded, “My people came to me; [Director of National Intelligence] 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.”
A day later, Trump told reporters, “I have full faith and support for America’s great intelligence agencies, always have.”
“I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place,” Trump said. “Could be other people also. A lot of people out there.”
The president added that he meant to say, “I don’t see any reason why it WOULDN’T be Russia” in the July 16 press conference.
Trump also told reporters that he and Putin discussed North Korea and denuclearization.
