President Donald Trump responded to critics Thursday who accused the president of treasonous behavior for saying that he would accept dirt on his political opponents from foreign actors.
The president told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an interview, partially released Wednesday, that “there isn’t anything wrong with listening” if a foreign source offers him opposition research. (RELATED: Trump: ‘I Think I’d Take’ Oppo Dirt From Foreign Entities)
“It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it,” Trump said. “If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI – if I thought there was something wrong.”
Trump’s comments sparked a wave of criticism from the media and Democrats. He responded in a tweet thread that the idea he has to report conversations with foreign governments to the FBI is “ridiculous.”
“I meet and talk to ‘foreign governments’ every day. I just met with the Queen of England (U.K.), the Prince of Wales, the P.M. of the United Kingdom, the P.M. of Ireland, the President of France and the President of Poland,” Trump wrote. “Should I call the FBI about these calls and meetings? How ridiculous! I would never be trusted again.”
I meet and talk to “foreign governments” every day. I just met with the Queen of England (U.K.), the Prince of Wales, the P.M. of the United Kingdom, the P.M. of Ireland, the President of France and the President of Poland. We talked about “Everything!” Should I immediately….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
….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 also pointed out that Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff were in contact with purported Russian actors. It is unclear what Trump is referring to when he says Warner “spoke at length … with a talented entertainer,” but Warner was in contact with a Russian oligarch’s lobbyist in an attempt to reach dossier author Christopher Steele.
When Senator @MarkWarnerVA spoke at length, and in great detail, about extremely negative information on me, with a talented entertainer purporting to be a Russian Operative, did he immediately call the FBI? NO, in fact he didn’t even tell the Senate Intelligence Committee of….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
Schiff was fooled by two Russian comedians last February who claimed they had recordings that revealed Russian president Vladimir Putin was blackmailing Trump with compromising photos. However, while Schiff had a staffer follow up about the alleged dirt, he also said during the call that he intended to contact the FBI regarding the information.
….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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019