2016 ELECTION/INTELLIGENCE/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A day after questioning the U.S. intelligence community’s findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election, President Donald Trump reversed course on Tuesday [7-17-18], saying he accepted its conclusion. Mr. Trump, whose comments at his news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki prompted a backlash in Congress and criticism from some of his allies, offered his ‘full faith and support for America’s great intelligence agencies.’ Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr. Trump said he has ‘strong respect’ for intelligence agencies and noted ‘tremendous talent’ within the U.S. intelligence community. Even as he acknowledged Russia’s role, Mr. Trump left open the idea that there ‘could be others too,’ and he repeated his assertion that there was no collusion with his campaign. The president said his administration had no plans to lift sanctions on Russia and would work hard to thwart further attempts at Russian election meddling in the U.S…Earlier Tuesday, lawmakers from both parties reiterated assertions that Russia is a U.S. adversary. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that there was ‘indisputable evidence’ that Russia had interfered with the U.S. election, and that Moscow was no friend to the U.S.”
-Vivian Salama, “Trump Reverses Course, Says Russia Meddled in 2016 Election,” The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2018 4:38 pm