Trump now claims Russia will interfere in 2018 elections 'for the Democrats'


President Trump on Tuesday appeared to acknowledge Russia's continuing efforts to interfere in U.S. elections — but claimed against evidence that Moscow would be "pushing very hard for the Democrats" in the midterms this fall. "I'm very concerned that Russia will be fighting very hard to have an impact in the upcoming election," Trump wrote.
Trump has been vacillating on Russian cyberattacks since his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, when he appeared to believe Putin's denials over the conclusions of U.S. intelligence. Putin was "extremely strong and powerful in his denial" that Russian hackers targeted the 2016 election, Trump said at the two leaders' joint press conference following their closed-door meeting. He also said "I don't see why it would be" Russia that interfered in the election, though he later backtracked, claiming he meant to say that he didn't see why it "wouldn't" be Russia that meddled.
U.S. intelligence agencies are unanimous in their conclusion that Moscow interfered in the 2016 election with intent to swing things in Trump's favor; they have not definitively said that the Russian efforts affected the election's outcome. At the press conference last week, Putin acknowledged that he wanted Trump to win the 2016 election. "Yes, I did," Putin said. "Because he talked about bringing the U.S.-Russia relationship back to normal."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami