Jake Tapper wonders why not even aides 'paid to believe the president' are backing Trump's wiretapping claim

Jake Tapper notes that Trump aides are not backing his wiretapping claim — (Image credit: CNN/YouTube)

On Wednesday night, John Kosich at WEWS-TV Channel 5 in Cleveland asked Vice President Mike Pence, yes or no, did he believe former President Barack Obama ordered a wiretap of President Trump's phones, as Trump stated on Twitter? On CNN Thursday night, Jake Tapper noted that Pence didn't answer the question. "This is, interestingly, just the latest example of members of the president's own team refusing to say that they believe his apparently false claim," Tapper said. "And these are people who are paid to believe the president."

He quoted the non-affirmations from White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and his deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, as examples. "The president says it took place," Tapper said. "His deputy press secretary? Eh, not so sure. Every credible person with access to intelligence says this did not happen or they have seen no evidence that it happened." Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.