President-elect Donald Trump seems quite determined to discredit the intelligence community's conclusion that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered hackers to help him get elected.
The "Intelligence" briefing on so-called "Russian hacking" was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
He also seems to trust WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange — whose history strongly suggests ties with the Putin regime — over his own intelligence agencies.
Julian Assange said "a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta" - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
Trump's tweets have reportedly sparked confusion among America's intelligence officials, who said that there was no delay in the briefing schedule — which was always scheduled for Friday, according to an Associated Press report on Wednesday morning. Aside from increasing suspicions that Trump is avoiding facts that may damage his self-image or discredit his election victory, there are also concerns that his attitude could harm his relationship with the intelligence community.
President-elect Trump still questions if Russia interfered this year. Here's @reince saying it's bc intel agencies aren't "on the same page" pic.twitter.com/tMmxGuMgZL
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
Here's an October statement from DHS and DNI. Here's the CIA director saying this week that the FBI, CIA and DNI are all on the same page pic.twitter.com/rIr36NPxJw
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
President-elect Trump isn't questioning the CIA on Russia's motives. He's questioning the intel community assessment of Russia's involvement
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
Here's @reince claiming Trump doesn't accept it bc intel communities aren't on the same page. Here's the CIA saying they're on the same page pic.twitter.com/kRbT972mQv
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
Here, on a different TV show, is @KellyannePolls saying the CIA needs to turn over evidence to prove Russia meddled in the 2016 election pic.twitter.com/mflZiTwEjm
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
Once more, with feeling: The U.S. intel community says Russia meddled in the 2016 election. The president-elect says he's not sold. pic.twitter.com/Mt9wuaaM4R
— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 19, 2016
A reminder that the president-elect has repeatedly questioned the consensus view of U.S. intelligence agencies. That continues tonight pic.twitter.com/Bwuj6fLUh9
— Mark Berman (@markberman) January 4, 2017
President-elect Trump, who has repeatedly questioned the intel community's beliefs about Russia, cites a TV interview he just saw pic.twitter.com/6k7efOpY1P
— Mark Berman (@markberman) January 4, 2017
1/Intelligence officials tell CNN briefing by DNI Clapper & CIA Dir Brennan on hacking review never scheduled for today. https://t.co/5wKnyhtta6
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
2/With the ".." PEOTUS appears to be calling into question both the hacking & his own intel agencies https://t.co/5wKnyhtta6
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
3/This is the 3rd story Trump & team have told on #Russian hacking in 3 days. 1st was that Trump had "new info" only he knew — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
4/Second was they needed to wait for final review to make a judgment. Now PEOTUS seems to be dismissing that review as "intelligence" — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
5/US official says PEOTUS could be "confusing" PDB he received today with in-depth briefing on hacking Intel review ordered by POTUS
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
6/POTUS himself has not yet received briefing on the review of #Russian & other hacking that he ordered last month, US official notes
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 4, 2017
It remains to be seen how Trump will respond once he receives his intelligence briefing on Friday.
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