Trump Doesn’t Consider Intelligence Agencies To Be On His Team

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

This is a very interesting exchange between a reporter and President Trump in Poland earlier today:

Note Trump’s response to Hallie Jackson.  He notes the reports that 17 intelligence agencies said it was Russia who did the hacking.  He then says “We looked into that, and there are only 3 intelligence agencies.”

I will get to the substance of what Trump said in a moment, but first — note his phrasing.  Who is “we”?  Obviously, not the intelligence agencies.  Apparently, over 5 months into his term, Trump considers his “team” to be his and his aides, not the executive branch, not the American people. That’s a stunning admission.

It is true that only 4 intelligence agencies said Russia did the hacking and even the NY Times had to retract a story that said “17”.  But don’t me mislead by that.  The other 13 (like the Office of Naval Intelligence) didn’t contradict — they just didn’t investigate because it wasn’t in their wheelhouse.

Who made the conclusion? Only the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  The BIG four.

Seems pretty stupid to be dismissive of their conclusions.

But remember, this all took place in Poland, where Trump is at the G20.  Quite simply, he mocked U.S. intelligence services in front of the whole world by suggesting that he doesn’t believe their reports on Russian interference by comparing it to this:

“When I was sitting back listening about Iraq … Weapons of mass destruction, how everybody was 100 percent sure,” Trump said. “They were wrong and it led to a mess.”

I think we all get it. He needs to preserve the integrity of his election and protect himself against whatever it is that Vladimir Putin has on him.  Or maybe it is just insecurity. But whatever it is, he’s willing to trash the United States of America on the world stage in order to do so. I can think of nothing more contemptible.