President Trump clarified his position on possibly accepting opposition research from foreign governments in two tweets on Thursday.
During his interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Trump was asked how he would handle such an offer.
“I’ve seen a lot of things over my life, I don’t think in my whole life I’ve ever called the FBI,” Trump said. “You don’t call the FBI. You throw somebody out of your office.”
“I think maybe you do both,” Trump added. “I think you might want to listen. There’s nothing wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country, Norway, ‘We have information on your opponent.’ Oh, I think I would want to hear it.”
On Thursday, Trump tweeted he meets and talks with foreign governments every day and he does not call the FBI to talk about every conversation. He previously referenced the “Prince of Wales” as the “Prince of Whales,” but later deleted and replaced the tweet.
“We talked about ‘Everything!’ Should I immediately [sic] call the FBI about these calls and meetings? How ridiculous! I would never be trusted again. With that being said, my full answer is rarely played by the Fake News Media,” he said.
….call the FBI about these calls and meetings? How ridiculous! I would never be trusted again. With that being said, my full answer is rarely played by the Fake News Media. They purposely leave out the part that matters.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
Trump then tweeted about Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and California Rep. Adam Schiff talking with people who posed to have information on him. It is in reference to Russian pranksters calling Schiff saying the Russian Federal Security Service had naked pictures of Trump.
Schiff informed law enforcement about the call before and after the conversation took place.
….which he is a member. When @RepAdamSchiff took calls from another person, also very successfully purporting to be a Russian Operative, did he call the FBI, or even think to call the FBI? NO! The fact is that the phony Witch Hunt is a giant scam where Democrats,…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
“… and other really bad people, SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN! They even had an ‘insurance policy’ just in case Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats lost their race for the Presidency! This is the biggest & worst political scandal in the history of the United States of America. Sad,” Trump concluded.
Many of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates condemned Trump’s answer and some called for his impeachment.
“President Trump is once again welcoming foreign interference in our elections. This isn’t about politics. It is a threat to our national security. An American President should not seek their aid and abet those who seek to undermine democracy,” former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted.
It’s time for Congress to begin impeachment hearings. https://t.co/yYG6oqHfCm
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) June 12, 2019
We have a president who thinks he is above the law. The House should immediately begin impeachment inquiries. https://t.co/1jetFwFRwd
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 13, 2019
“This is inexcusable. The President of the United States just effectively gave permission to foreign agents to interfere in our elections. We need my Secure Elections Act and Honest Ads Act passed immediately. The 2020 elections are not secure. Disgraceful,” Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted.
