INTELLIGENCE/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump said on Wednesday [7-18-18] that Russia was no longer targeting the United States, contradicting his own intelligence chief and just a day after promising that his administration was working to prevent Kremlin interference in the upcoming midterm elections. Mr. Trump’s comments were the latest in a dizzying collection of conflicting statements from Mr. Trump since he emerged from a private meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday in Helsinki, Finland. And it directly contradicts assertions from Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, who has repeatedly said that Russia continues to try to interfere with American democracy. The president’s changing statements on his perception of Russia’s intentions toward the United States underscore concerns that Mr. Trump does not believe American intelligence officials. In brief remarks ahead of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Trump said Mr. Putin was not happy because ‘there’s never been a president as tough on Russia as I have been..’”
-Eileen Sullivan, “Russia Is No Longer Targeting the U.S., Trump Says, Contradicting His Own Intelligence Director,” The New York Times online, July 18, 2018