Clapper Suggests Trump Is Being 'Naive' About Russia
- 6 years ago
Former National Intelligence Director James Clapper has reacted to President Trump's recent remarks on Russia.
James Clapper, the former U.S. Director of National Intelligence, has indicated that President Trump is being "naive" for assuming Russia will help with major foreign policy issues.
He made the comment on CNN's "State of the Union" after host Jake Tapper read a tweet by the president which stated, "When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. There [sic] always playing politics - bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help!"
"I suppose they could be [a help], but I think it's naive to assume they will be," Clapper said in response about Russia.
"The likelihood that the Russians are gonna pursue like interests with us is slim to none, and I think it's very naive and, in fact perilous, to this country, to make an assumption that Russia is going to behave with the best interests of the world or certainly the United States in mind. They're not," Clapper continued.
According to the New York Times, Trump spoke privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vietnam Saturday amid an economic summit.
Afterwards, Trump recounted to reporters aboard Air Force One, "I just asked him again. He said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did.
His account of Putin's denial comes despite U.S. intelligence officials jointly concluding that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 presidential race.
"Every time he sees me he says, 'I didn't do that,' and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. I think he is very insulted by it, which is not a good thing for our country," Trump added about Putin.
Trump has since backtracked somewhat from his comment.
"I believe that [Putin] feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election," the president said the next day. "As to whether I believe it or not, I'm with our agencies — especially as currently constituted."
James Clapper, the former U.S. Director of National Intelligence, has indicated that President Trump is being "naive" for assuming Russia will help with major foreign policy issues.
He made the comment on CNN's "State of the Union" after host Jake Tapper read a tweet by the president which stated, "When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. There [sic] always playing politics - bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help!"
"I suppose they could be [a help], but I think it's naive to assume they will be," Clapper said in response about Russia.
"The likelihood that the Russians are gonna pursue like interests with us is slim to none, and I think it's very naive and, in fact perilous, to this country, to make an assumption that Russia is going to behave with the best interests of the world or certainly the United States in mind. They're not," Clapper continued.
According to the New York Times, Trump spoke privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vietnam Saturday amid an economic summit.
Afterwards, Trump recounted to reporters aboard Air Force One, "I just asked him again. He said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did.
His account of Putin's denial comes despite U.S. intelligence officials jointly concluding that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 presidential race.
"Every time he sees me he says, 'I didn't do that,' and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. I think he is very insulted by it, which is not a good thing for our country," Trump added about Putin.
Trump has since backtracked somewhat from his comment.
"I believe that [Putin] feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election," the president said the next day. "As to whether I believe it or not, I'm with our agencies — especially as currently constituted."