President Trump brushed off a report by the Washington Post stating that he “has gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal details” of his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin – telling Fox News host Jeanine Pirro in a phone interview that he would be willing to release the details of a private conversation in Helsinki last summer.
“I would. I don’t care,” Trump told Pirro, adding: “I’m not keeping anything under wraps. I couldn’t care less.”
“I mean, it’s so ridiculous, these people making up,” Trump said of the WaPo report.
The president referred to his roughly two-hour dialogue with Putin in Helsinki — at which only the leaders and their translators were present — as “a great conversation” that included discussions about “securing Israel and lots of other things.”
“I had a conversation like every president does,” Trump said Saturday. “You sit with the president of various countries. I do it with all countries.” –Politico
Trump on WaPo report and meeting with Putin to Pirro: “I meet with Putin, and they make a big deal. Anybody could have listened to that meeting, that meeting is open for grabs.” pic.twitter.com/fmcudado31
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) January 13, 2019
In July an attempt by House Democrats to subpoena Trump’s Helsinki interpreter was quashed by Republicans.
“The Washington Post is almost as bad, or probably as bad, as the New York Times,” Trump said.
When Pirro asked Trump about a Friday night New York Times report that the FBI had opened an inquiry into whether he was working for Putin, Pirro asked Trump “Are you now or have you ever worked for Russia, Mr. President?”
“I think it’s the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked,” Trump responded. “I think it’s the most insulting article I’ve ever had written.”
Trump on the NYT article about the FBI counterintelligence investigation: “I think it’s the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked. I think it’s the most insulting article I’ve ever had written.” pic.twitter.com/F0QUu1oRhG
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) January 13, 2019
Trump went on an epic tweetstorm Saturday following the Times article, defending his 2017 firing of former FBI Director James Comey, and tweeting that he has been “FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!”
I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019
Trump slammed the recent reports as “all nonsense.”
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