Since the first intelligence assessment finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign, Trump has zigzagged on whether he actually believes it. When pressed publicly, he says he accepts Russia's involvement but then later suggests he has doubts.
The indictment on Saturday of 12 Russian officials on charges of hacking and other related crimes does not appear to have changed his mind.
"I don't see any reason" why Russia would interfere in the election, Trump added, while then claiming he maintains confidence in the intelligence community. "I have confidence in both parties," he said of Putin and US intelligence. Trump's comments on Monday offered insight into why he's so reluctant to acknowledge Moscow's role.
Putin admits the obvious
The Russian leader confirmed international suspicions and the assessments of the US intelligence community that he was rooting for Trump over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 US presidential election.
"Yes, I did," Putin said, when asked if he wanted Trump to win. "Yes, I did. Because he talked about bringing the US-Russia relationship back to normal." After all, there was little love lost between Putin and Trump's opponent, former Secretary of State Clinton, who had grown increasingly critical of his Government's actions in Ukraine and Syria.
Russia has used election meddling before to undermine public confidence in democratically elected governments. Even if Putin didn't specifically order meddling to benefit Trump in 2016, US officials say Russia tried to undermine Americans' faith in their system of government.
Putin played statesmen, Trump played trusting friend
Putin was in the driver's seat during the news conference - speaking first and easily parrying reporters. Trump, whose opening remarks were delivered from notes, appeared uncomfortable at some points and defensive at others.
The leaders' news conference was overshadowed by talk of 2016 and Russian interference, and as Trump remained focused on pushing back on questions about his election, the rest of the bilateral relationship was left to Putin to explain. Trump did not criticise Russia's support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, whom the US has called on to step down. Instead, Trump said the pair were committed to Israel's security and maintained that the US and Russian militaries "do get along".
On Iran, Putin chastised the US President for weakening the Iran nuclear deal. Trump did not communicate the US opposition to Russia's annexation of Crimea, leaving it to Putin to note, when asked, the US position.
Putin says he doesn't have compromising material on Trump
Asked directly if his Government possesses embarrassing or incriminating material on the US President, Putin told reporters: "It's hard to imagine greater nonsense." He added: "Please get this rubbish out of your heads." Speaking to salacious claims about Trump's business trips to Russia that first surfaced in an election-year dossier prepared by an ex-British spy, Putin said, "I did not even know he was in Moscow." Trump has long denied the allegations and has used the partly unsubstantiated claims in the document, funded by Democrats, as a cudgel against the wider investigation of Russian interference.
The gift
Still in the afterglow of hosting the football World Cup, Putin pulled out a red-and-white tournament ball and tossed it at Trump, whose country will co-host the 2026 tournament.
Praising Russia's role as host, Trump said of the North American joint-host committee, "We hope we do as good a job." Trump said he'd give the ball to his 12-year-old son, Barron. Then he tossed it to his wife, Melania. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted: "I'd check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House."
- AP
