Quotes by Donald Trump on National Intelligence Assessments
#Trump 9/7/16: "That shocked me…Obama did not follow…what our experts said." » #Trump 7/26/18: "I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but…Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial." Click To Tweet
Quotes by Donald Trump on National Intelligence Assessments
THEN
Sept 7, 2016

- Sept 7, 2016
Time, Sept 7, 2016
Read Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's Remarks at a Military Forum
NOW
Oct 2016 - 2020

“I think [the U.S. intelligence agencies’ assessment that Russia interfered in our election is] public relations, frankly…
“Hacking is very hard to determine who did what. OK? You know that. People are hacking all over the place and nobody knows. They don’t know if it’s Russia. They can’t guarantee it’s Russia. And it may be. I mean, it may be Russia…
“I haven’t seen the [U.S. intelligence agencies’] conclusion. But you know what, hacking I understand. And you really– it’s very hard to determine who’s doing the hacking. What I have seen though is I have seen WikiLeaks. And where they came from, I don’t know.”
Oct 27, 2016 -
ABC News, Oct 27, 2016
Full Transcript: George Stephanopoulos Goes One-on-One with Donald Trump
Dec 7, 2016 -
Time (via Politico), Dec 7, 2016
Trump: I don't believe Russia interfered with the election
Dec 11, 2016 -
Fox News (via Politico), Dec 11, 2016
Trump: Reports of Russian hacking 'ridiculous'
Dec 15, 2016 -
If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2016
Dec 28, 2016 -
NBC News, Dec 28, 2016
Trump on Russia Sanctions: 'We Ought to Get on With Our Lives'
Dec 31, 2016 -
New York Times, Dec 28, 2016
Trump Promises a Revelation on Hacking
Jan 3, 2017 -
The "Intelligence" briefing on so-called "Russian hacking" was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
Jan 11, 2017 -
Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me.Are we living in Nazi Germany?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Jan 15, 2017 -
.@FoxNews "Outgoing CIA Chief, John Brennan, blasts Pres-Elect Trump on Russia threat. Does not fully understand." Oh really, couldn't do…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2017
much worse – just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake News?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2017
Feb 15, 2017 -
Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?).Just like Russia
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
Feb 15, 2017 -
The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by "intelligence" like candy. Very un-American!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
July 8, 2017 -
Per an unnamed New York Times reporter, who said Trump argued that the Russians were falsely accused of election interference.
New York Times, Jan 15, 2019
Trump and Putin Have Met Five Times. What Was Said Is a Mystery.
July 25, 2017 -
Real Clear Politics, July 25, 2017
"I want the attorney general to be much tougher on the leaks from intelligence agencies," Trump says of Sessions https://t.co/Okz2bwUl4f pic.twitter.com/f6yrQtvCQr — CBS News (@CBSNews) July 25, 2017
Trump: 'Very Disappointed' With Sessions, Want Him To Be 'Tougher' On Intel Leaks
Nov 11, 2017 -
New York Times, Nov 11, 2017
Trump Says Putin ‘Means It’ About Not Meddling
Nov 12, 2017 -
Associated Press, Nov 11, 2017
Trump: ‘I’m with our agencies’ on Russian election meddling
July 16, 2018 -
Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit
White House, July 16, 2018
Remarks by President Trump and President Putin of the Russian Federation in Joint Press Conference
Nov 20, 2018 -
White House, Nov 20, 2018
Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia
Nov 22, 2018 -
White House, Nov 22, 2018
Thanksgiving Teleconference with Members of the Military
Nov 27, 2018 -
Washington Post, Nov 27, 2018
Trump stands by Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi killing
Jan 30, 2019 -
The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
….a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
“I disagree with [my intelligence chiefs about Iran abiding by the nuclear deal]…
“I have intel people, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree. President Bush had intel people that said Saddam Hussein in Iraq had nuclear weapons — had all sorts of weapons of mass destruction. Guess what? Those intel people didn’t know what the hell they were doing, and they got us tied up in a war that we should have never been in… When my intelligence people tell me how wonderful Iran is — if you don’t mind, I’m going to just go by my own counsel…
“[Regarding Dan Coats testifying that Kim Jong-un is still very unlikely to give up his nuclear weapons program] that’s what the intelligence chief thinks, and I think there’s a good possibility of that too. But there’s also a very good chance that we will make a deal.”
Feb 3, 2019 -
CBS News, Feb 3, 2019
Transcript: President Trump on 'Face the Nation,' February 3, 2019
June 16, 2019 -
ABC News, June 16, 2019
Transcript: ABC News' George Stephanopoulos' exclusive interview with President Trump
June 28, 2019 -
New York Times, June 28, 2019
Trump and Putin Share Joke About Election Meddling, Sparking New Furor
July 30, 2019 -
CNN, July 30, 2019
TRUMP on why he thinks John Ratcliffe will make a good DNI: "We need somebody strong that can really rein it in. Because as I think you've all learned, the intelligence agencies have run amok. They've run amok." 😳 pic.twitter.com/TkRe75vKLA — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 30, 2019
Trump says Ratcliffe will 'rein in' US intelligence agencies as spy chief
Aug 10, 2019 -
In a letter to me sent by Kim Jong Un, he stated, very nicely, that he would like to meet and start negotiations as soon as the joint U.S./South Korea joint exercise are over. It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ridiculous and expensive exercises. It was…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019
….also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019
Aug 31, 2019 -
Being scolded by failed former “Intelligence” officials, like James Clapper, on my condolences to Iran on their failed Rocket launch. Sadly for the United States, guys like him, Comey, and the even dumber John Brennan, don’t have a clue. They really set our Country back,….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2019
….but now we are moving forward like never before. We are winning again, and we are respected again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2019
Sept 3, 2019 -
The truth is that we have a nation that is disgusted with the FBI. We have a crisis of confidence in the number one law enforcement agency in this country (thanks Comey!). @LouDobbs “It’s a scandal.” @AlanDersh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2019
Oct 28, 2019 -
Washington Post, Oct 28, 2019
Trump’s news conference on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death, annotated
Aug 11, 2020 -
John Bolton, one of the dumbest people I’ve met in government and sadly, I’ve met plenty, states often that I respected, and even trusted, Vladimir Putin of Russia more than those in our Intelligence Agencies. While of course that is not true, if the first people you met from….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2020
..so called American Intelligence were Dirty Cops who have now proven to be sleazebags at the highest level like James Comey, proven liar James Clapper, & perhaps the lowest of them all, Wacko John Brennan who headed the CIA, you could perhaps understand my reluctance to embrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2020
#DonaldTrump 9/7/16: "That shocked me…Obama did not follow…what our experts said." » #Trump 10/28/19: "When we waste our time with intelligence that hurts our country, because we had poor leadership at the top, that’s not good." Click To Tweet
Context
The U.S. intelligence community has consistently maintained since during the 2016 election that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.
On October 7, 2016, the Department Of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence release a joint statement on behalf of the U.S. Intelligence Community that included this excerpt1The Department Of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Oct 7, 2016
Joint Statement from the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security
retrieved 1/31/19:
“The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer 2.0 online persona are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process. Such activity is not new to Moscow—the Russians have used similar tactics and techniques across Europe and Eurasia, for example, to influence public opinion there. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.”
On January 7, 2017, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an intelligence assessment by the CIA, the FBI, and the NSA that included this excerpt2Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Jan 6, 2017
Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution (pdf)
retrieved 1/31/19:
“We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.
“We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him…
“We assess Moscow will apply lessons learned from its Putin-ordered campaign aimed at the US presidential election to future influence efforts worldwide, including against US allies and their election processes.”
On November 16, 2018, the CIA reportedly concluded with “high confidence” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, contradicting claims by the Saudi government that he was not involved.3Washington Post, Nov 16, 2018
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
retrieved 1/30/19
On November 27, 2018, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has presented intelligence to Trump Administration officials and to Republican and Democratic lawmakers their analysis pointing to Mohammad bin Salman’s direct involvement in Khashoggi‘s murder.4Washington Post, Nov 27, 2018
Trump stands by Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi killing
retrieved 1/30/19
On January 27, 2019, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the annual “Worldwide Threat Assessment Report of the National Intelligence Community.” The report includes assessments that contradict claims repeatedly made by Trump, including that Iran has not been taking steps necessary to make a bomb, that ISIS will continue “to stoke violence” in Syria, and that North Korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear stockpiles. The report did not mention building a wall along the US/Mexico border as a national security priority.5New York Times, Jan 29, 2019
On North Korea and Iran, Intelligence Chiefs Contradict Trump
retrieved 1/31/19
On January 28, 2019, Director of U.S. National Intelligence Dan Coats, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on national security threats. Here are excerpts6Time, Jan 29, 2019
Trump’s Own Intelligence Chief Contradicted Him Several Times
retrieved 3/2/19:
“Even as Russia faces a weakening economy the Kremlin is stepping up its campaign to divide Western political and security institutions and undermine the post-World War II international order. We expect Russia will continue to wage its information war against democracies and to use social media to attempt to divide our societies…
“We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities because it’s leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival. Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization…
“While ISIS is nearing territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria, the group has returned to its guerrilla warfare roots while continuing to plot attacks and direct its supporters worldwide. ISIS is intent on resurging and still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria.”
#DonaldTrump 9/7/16: "That shocked me…Obama did not follow…what our experts said to do." » #Trump 1/1/17: "Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this…Are we living in Nazi Germany?" Click To Tweet