Trump: Russia Doesn’t Pose a Threat to US

Contradicts Coats' claim Russian hostile activities continue

On Wednesday, President Trump told reporters that he is the toughest president against Russia in American history, saying he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin understands that. He told the media that Russia no longer poses a threat to the US.

This comment, as with every other post-summit comment suggesting anything short of full hostility toward Russia, fueled condemnations from lawmakers, with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanding Trump walk back the comments.

Trump’s comments seemingly contradicted the position of his Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who after the summit claimed Russia’s “hostile activities” are continuing and expressed concern Russia would try to meddle in America’s mid-term elections.

The White House offered its own statement denying that Trump ever made the statement in the first place, presenting his comment as a refusal to comment to the media at all, as opposed to a comment to the media.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.