Silke Jasso
On Wednesday in New York, President-elect Donald Trump was asked if he would condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin and his alleged involvement in a hack of the United States presidential election.
Videos by Rare
“It’s all fake news, it’s phony stuff,” Trump said.
"As far as hacking, I think it was Russia but I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people" https://t.co/gVp2PQ1ucI pic.twitter.com/SfJMgQhINW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 11, 2017
Trump categorized rumors that he was compromised politically by the Russian government as sick and inaccurate.
“It was a disgrace,” he said.
When asked directly if Russia had hacked the election, Trump agreed.
“As far as hacking, I think it was Russia but I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people,” Trump said.
“Hacking’s bad, it shouldn’t be done, but look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking,” Trump said, before pointing out things learned about the Democratic Party thanks to the Russian hack.
Trump later said that it was an asset if Russian President Putin liked him. “If Putin likes Donald Trump…guess what folks, that’s an asset not a liability,” he said.
Trump then asked those present to question if they really believe that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be tougher on Putin than him.
Later in the press conference, Trump made a failed reference to a report that he paid prostitutes to urinate on a bed that the first couple had once slept in.
“I’m a germaphobe,” Trump said to great laughter.
Story Developing.
