Trump says Russia no longer targeting US

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump said Wednesday Russia is no longer targeting the U.S., clashing with an assessment given earlier this week by one of his top intelligence officials.

Trump was asked by reporters if Russia "is still targeting the U.S." as the president continues to wrangle with a bevy of criticism following remarks he made regarding Russia's alleged effort to sway the 2016 election.

The president's response to the shouted question was succinct: "Thank you very much. No."

The comments are in direct conflict with a public assessment one of his top intelligence officials made earlier this week.

On Monday, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats issued a statement in which he said Russia's "pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy" are "ongoing."

Intelligence agencies determined in January 2017 that Russia, operating under Putin's direction, sought to sway the outcome of the 2016 White House race through a multi-faceted effort aimed at undercutting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Putin has denied any Russian involvement.

Trump has faced a torrent of bipartisan criticism following his remarks during a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he said he has "great confidence" in the U.S. intelligence community, but added "President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."

Putin "just said it’s not Russia," Trump said. "I don’t see any reason why it would be."

Trump walked those statements back Tuesday, maintaining that the "would" he said should have been "wouldn't."

"The sentence should've been: 'I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia,'" Trump said at the White House. "I accept our intelligence community conclusion that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election took place."

While that explanation assuaged the concerns of some of Trump's closest allies, Republicans less friendly to the president remain deeply critical, along with their Democratic counterparts.

"I would say that I completely believe President Trump misspoke and that he has full faith and confidence in the members of our intelligence community and understands that Putin and Russia were fully responsible for intervening in our election," Representative Adam Schiff said sarcastically on Twitter. "Sorry. I meant wouldn’t."

Responding to Trump's comments on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the microblogging site: "Mr. President. Walk this back too."