Donald Trump says he made a mistake during Helsinki meet, reverses Russia comment
Washington, July 18 (IBNS): In another U-turn, US President Donald Trump has reversed his comment he made during a bi-lateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.
Trump, who had defended Russia and stated there's nothing to not believe Putin, pertaining to the Western nation's meddling in US elections, said on Tuesday that he had made a mistake and used 'would' instead of 'wouldn't'.
During the meeting, when a reporter asked the US President if he believes his own country's intelligence agency or Putin, Trump said: "President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be."
Reflecting on his mistake, he said: "In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word 'would' instead of 'wouldn't."
"The sentence should have been: 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't' or 'why it wouldn't be Russia'. Sort of a double negative."
"I accept our intelligence community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election took place. Could be other people also. A lot of people out there," he added.
However, Trump refrained from answering if he would condemn Putin.
Following his admission, the US President has come under fire from his colleagues.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted: "President Trump tried to squirm away from what he said yesterday. It’s twenty-four hours too late, and in the wrong place."
"If @realDonaldTrump can’t say directly to President Putin that he is wrong & we are right & our intelligence agencies are right, it’s ineffective & worse, another sign of weakness.
"It tells President Putin 'continue to take advantage of Donald Trump' because he doesn’t have the courage, the strength, maybe not even the conviction to say to Putin’s face what he tried to say a few minutes ago,"he said.
Schumer also urged the government to impose strict sanctions on Russia, now that Trump has openly admitted making a mistake by defending President Putin and his administration.
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