Is Russia targeting US? Trump says no, but Huckabee says he really meant ‘no questions’, in another whiplash reversal
US intelligence officials have said Russian election interference efforts continue and now target the November midterms
One day after walking back his remarks over Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential elections, US President Donald Trump created more confusion on Wednesday when he apparently told journalists that he did not believe Russia was targeting America with further hacks – only for another clarification to be issued hours later.
Following a meeting with his Cabinet, Trump was asked by a reporter: “Is Russia still targeting the US, Mr President?” Trump appeared to respond: “Thank you. No.”
In a news briefing later on Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that “The president … was saying ‘No’ to answering questions … The president and his administration are working very hard to make sure that Russia is unable to meddle in our elections as they have done in the past.”
However Trump continued to speak on the subject well after his “no”, as reporters continued to ask questions.