“In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word would instead of wouldn’t.”
Leah Millis/Reuters
President Donald Trump walked back remarks he made in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying that he has “full faith and support” in his intelligence agencies. “In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word would instead of wouldn’t. The sentence should have been...‘I don’t see any reason why it WOULDN’T be Russia.’ Sort of a double negative. So you can put that in, and I think that probably clarifies things,” the president read from a typed statement Tuesday. “I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place,” however, he added, “Could be other people also. A lot of people out there.” Trump then continued: “Once again, full faith and support for America’s intelligence agencies. I have a faith full faith in our intelligence agencies.” This comes after Trump shed serious doubt on the intelligence community’s conclusion that the Russians did meddle in the 2016 election, saying that Putin’s denial was convincing.
NEW: Pres. Trump says he misspoke at yesterday's joint presser with Vladimir Putin, meant to say there was no reason "it wouldn't be Russia" behind election meddling.
"I said the word would instead of wouldn't...I think that probably clarifies things pretty good by itself." pic.twitter.com/eNB7qLJQ9u
