Trump Brushes Off Criticism of Remarks on Foreign Info

Says he meets with world leaders all the time, and it would be 'ridiculous' to inform the FBI
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2019 10:25 AM CDT
Trump Brushes Off Criticism of Remarks on Foreign Info
President Trump listens during a news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Trump generated headlines Wednesday when he said during an interview that he would listen if a foreign government approached with dirt on a political rival. On Thursday, Trump pushed back against the resulting criticism, reports the Hill. "I meet and talk to 'foreign governments' every day," he tweeted, ticking off the world leaders he just met on his trip to Europe. "Should I immediately call the FBI about these calls and meetings?" he wrote. "How ridiculous! I would never be trusted again." He also complained that his "full answer is rarely played by the Fake News Media. They purposely leave out the part that matters." He didn't elaborate on what he meant by that.

The president's earlier exchange with ABC's George Stephanopoulos can be seen in this video. In it, Trump said he or any politician would surely listen if a foreign government came forward with information on a rival. When Stephanopoulos told him that the FBI chief says it's protocol in such situations to call the FBI, Trump responded that "the FBI director is wrong. ... I think you might want to listen. There's nothing wrong with listening." He added that it's "not an interference. They have information. I think I'd take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI." One critic is Stephen Collinson at CNN, who writes that Trump just issued an invitation to "foreign spies." (More President Trump stories.)

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