The White House has denied that Trump and Pence were briefed but I think that’s just another lie. If it’s true, that shows a real failure in Trump’s intelligence structure. Notice that Trump has not denied the substance of the story – Russia paid for deaths of American soldiers. Its appalling that he spoke at West Point while he is allowing Russia to pay for our soldiers to get killed.
Also notice that Trump has done nothing about it. He is Putin’s puppet. I wish we knew why. Sad!
Analysis: Here are the events that preceded the intelligence community's conclusion about the bounties, and what Trump has said about Russia since then https://t.co/T0LtaoGKhI
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 29, 2020
long pattern
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) June 28, 2020
as Mueller reported, Russia helped, Trump campaign welcomed it and didn’t report to FBI
Mueller didn’t exonerate Trump
he laid out extensive evidence of obstruction of justice
partisans’ refusal to accept/acknowledge those facts don’t make them any less true https://t.co/IXMnzPEL6o
This is a fascinating statement by @realDonaldTrump. No one is saying Russians attacked US troops. The multiple press reports state Russia paid bounties for militants to kill US troops. Did @POTUS intentionally misdescribe what Russia did in order to deny it?#SundayThoughts https://t.co/cMSDs5Y0O8
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 28, 2020
Stop it. Trump was briefed. He may not have paid attention to it or read the PDB he was given but he was briefed. He did nothing while Putin put a bounty on our American Troops. Note, this White House has not denied the underlying intelligence. #putinspet https://t.co/sr98scobkx
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) June 28, 2020
New: @barbarastarrcnn reports there were some efforts at protecting US forces in Afghanistan because of the intelligence re Russian bounties.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) June 28, 2020
If the threat was serious enough to increase force protection, why wouldn’t the president be briefed?
Trump denies being briefed by US Intel that Russian intelligence officers with GRU recently offered money to Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan as rewards if they killed US or UK troops there.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 28, 2020
Of note: zero condemnation for Putin, Russia, GRU below.
Will US respond? https://t.co/QH8aJ2h1j9
This x1000 https://t.co/VPKhAsPAvC
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) June 28, 2020
The president is pushing to invite Russia back into the G8. It was expelled for annexing Crimea. It still controls Crimea. https://t.co/pkMeKxLOCn
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) June 28, 2020
Hi. It’s the President’s Daily Brief guy.
— David Priess (@DavidPriess) June 28, 2020
Let’s look at the logic and the implications of the claim that neither Trump nor Pence were briefed on the intelligence assessment that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill US/coalition troops in Afghanistan.
1/10 https://t.co/Laafqaocg3
"Not briefed on the exactly the stuff that the NYT says was briefed" means
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 28, 2020
The NYT said the waiter offered vanilla ice cream
"We did not say that vanilla ice cream was available."
Was any ice cream on the menu you offered?
"no comment"
Did the president eat it?
"no comment" https://t.co/9VTGv95unh
1. This asserts a *briefing* never occurred.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 28, 2020
-But was the information known to the President and VP? Anyone in DC knows the difference between these two things.
2. Who *did* know?
3. I see no reason to take DNI's word on anything. https://t.co/gCsELHKM9U
Yep on all of this. There’s also the credibility problem — having denied so many things later confirmed, often by POTUS himself. (Including one involving McEnany less than a week ago on testing.) https://t.co/CvhjMBPXTi
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 28, 2020
The explanation is either irresponsibility or a lie. Neither is good. https://t.co/3vC3xdJTpr
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) June 28, 2020
I don't get how this isn't at the top of every news website, on the front page of every newspaper, and the lead of every news broadcast. https://t.co/xjTWZlHfEn
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) June 27, 2020
.@PressSec says neither Trump nor Pence were briefed on US intelligence that a Russian intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to attack coalition forces.
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) June 27, 2020
But she doesn't deny the validity of the US intel itself, as first reported by the NYT pic.twitter.com/E0Ju499Gcs
Yesterday the @nytimes reported, and Wash Post & WSJ confirmed, the explosive story that (1) Russia paid bounties for militants to kill US troops in Afghanistan & (2)@realDonaldTrump knew but did nothing.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 27, 2020
I note @POTUS has not denied the allegations. He’s focused on TV ratings. https://t.co/es3SSak7sg
What’s coming next: “We have put bounties on people’s heads too. The U.S. is not so innocent.”
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) June 27, 2020
He’ll NEVER stand up to Putin. https://t.co/gysOTUi37W
This strikes me as a very good question. Either he already knew, in which case he’s lying, or his reaction to a story about bounties on American soldiers is a quick 18 . https://t.co/fbGYFiwAHw
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 27, 2020
Watch @JoeNBC's message to #MAGA @realDonaldTrump supporters 👇
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) June 29, 2020
"Think about this – you're being told that they notified the British government, but they didn't even tell the President of the United States. Now, I just ask: How stupid do they think you are?"#PutinsGOP pic.twitter.com/HuigJm7mlh
