When Conspiracy Theory Becomes Conspiracy Law: Trump’s Tweets and Democracy’s Decline
Photo by Chip Somodevilla Politics Features Russia
“The Russia thing” is not a bad Tom Clancy novel, America. It’s a matter life or death, possibly yours or mine or someone you know. This wasn’t a cyberattack: it was an attack on our minds, on our psyches, and it convinced you and me to believe things that probably weren’t and aren’t true. It has created not just “alternate facts,” but entire alternate realities, increasingly irreconcilable and violent. These realities can’t and won’t co-exist in a peaceful democracy much longer.
But that’s all in your head. Maybe we can better understand the physical threat we’re under.
Russia has planted cyber “bombs” in our infrastructure, and they’re capable of disrupting and perhaps destroying parts of our physical power grid, our water systems, and our electronic communications. U.S. agents have discovered Russian “diplomats” and intelligence agents hanging out in isolated places like in Kansas fields or Nevada deserts, where fiber-optics cables run underground. The Russians have been practicing this stuff for years in other places, notably Ukraine. They can and will do it, if they think they can get away with it.
This could kill many people.
But it’s becoming more and more apparent our president cannot fulfill his oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend” the United States against, to quote James Comey, the “greatest threat of any country on earth.” Mr. Trump, nor the right wing, seem to shit a fuck about the fact our country was, is, and will continue to suffer a socially and politically debilitating psychological attack. This is why we all need to finally get over ourselves, admit we all know that Donald Trump is guilty, and try to figure out how to do something about it so we can move forward and try to heal our society. And if you need the proof to get you there, fine, I’ll prove to you with the following Exhibits A – H that Donald Trump:
1. Knowingly helped Russia attack our democracy;
2. Did it to get himself elected; and
3. Rewarded the Russians for it.
Note: this will include a list of the 181 times Mr. Trump has tweeted about Russia in the 195 days since December 12. If you can walk away from that and still believe Donald Trump might be innocent, it’s not my fault, it’s yours.
Onward to Exhibit A.
Exhibit A: Election Day™
I’d like to start off with something seemingly small but shocking, which went under-reported. Last week The Failing New York Times reported that Russia renewed six Trump trademarks last year. Four were renewed on Election Day. From that report:
Last year, while hacking Democrats’ emails and working to undermine the American presidential election, the Russian government also granted extensions to six trademarks for Mr. Trump that had been set to expire. The Trump trademarks, originally obtained between 1996 and 2007 for hotels and branding deals that never materialized, each had terms that were coming to an end in 2016.
Despite their inactivity, the Trump Organization sought extensions for the trademarks… In a series of approvals starting in April 2016 and ending in December, Rospatent granted new 10-year terms for the trademarks, the agency’s records show.
Four of the approvals were officially registered on Nov. 8—Election Day in the United States.
Again: hotels and brands. Re-applied for last year and good for ten. (That is, after his term(s)—God forbid—are up.) Keep this in mind as we move to:
Exhibit B: Nothing to do with Russia! Nothing!
Mr. Trump told reporters this February—months after his trademarks for doing past and future business in Russia got renewed—”I have no dealings with Russia. I have no deals that could happen in Russia, because we’ve stayed away.”
In fact, Mr. Trump repeatedly defends himself against accusations of collusion by exclaiming he has no business in Russia, nothing to do with Russia, no loans, etc. This repeated dismissal of his involvement, any involvement at all, with Russia, is completely insane. Off the top of my head, about 60 Russian passport holders have dropped $100 million into Trump condos in South Florida. And Mr. Trump “stayed away” from Russia except for the one exception of taking $20 million to bring Ms. Universe there. And the other exception of applying for trademarks between 1996 and 2007, and then reapplying for them during the campaign. And the other exception of taking $100 million for a South Florida (!!!) mansion. Just those three things!
He said it in a goddamn debate. And just last week, he said he had nothing to do with Russia. Why the fuck does he think this lie is an acceptable line of defense? Maybe it has something to do with Exhibit C…
Exhibit C is for Comey
During James Comey’s June 8 testimony, he laid out in clear language just how certain the U.S. is that Russia attacked us last year. But then he said something remarkable: in nine discussions of the subject, Mr. Trump never asked Mr. Comey what the United States could or should do in response to the attack, or how to prepare ourselves to defend against the next one.
HEINRICH: So that was a hostile act by the Russian government against this country?
COMEY: Yes, sir.
HEINRICH: Did the president, in any of those interactions that you’ve shared with us today, ask you what you should be doing, or what our government should be doing, or the intelligence community, to protect America against Russian interference in our election system?
COMEY: I don’t recall a conversation like that.
HEINRICH: Never?
COMEY: No…. I attended a fair number of meetings on that with President Obama.
“Preserve, protect and defend.” And to make it painfully clear, they went on:
HEINRICH: Did you have any interactions with the president that suggested he was taking that hostile action seriously?
COMEY: I don’t remember any interactions with the president, other than the initial briefing on January the 6th. I don’t remember—could be wrong, but I don’t remember any conversations with him at all about that.
Exhibit D is for Dumb Don’s Delusional Denials
Mr. Trump suggested just this month that Russia did not hack the DNC. He’s suggested the DNC hacked the DNC. Why? To embarrass Clinton and get Trump elected? Who the fuck knows? He’s called the whole thing a hoax. In the span of the last five days, he said Russia might have done it and also the Democrats did it and also that other countries might have done it with Russia.
He doesn’t have a story. This makes no sense any way you play it. If I didn’t do it, I’d say something like, “Yes, Russia did it, and it messed up the election. But here we are, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it right to the American people.” Instead, Mr. Trump is trying to make it right to the Russian people. Well, certain Russian people.
Exhibit E: Quid Pro Quollusion
Despite Mr. Trump’s recent assertion that President Obama “colluded” by “doing nothing,” Obama did a few things about the attack. First, he told us in October what was going on. And later he levied sanctions on Russia as punishment, expelling a bunch of diplomats and closing down two compounds in the U.S. widely known to be Russian intelligence centers.
Then Mr. Trump, in his first days in office, scrambled to reward Russia by lifting those exact same sanctions.
“The Trump administration reportedly looked into lifting US sanctions on Russia just days after the president’s inauguration, and one former official at the State Department said that if those efforts were successful, it would have given the Russians “exactly what they wanted in exchange for absolutely nothing.”
Who’s the colluder?
Of course, Mr. Trump can now be much harder than Obama on Russia, if he wants. But he’s done nothing. Indeed, Mr. Trump is once again considering returning those compounds to Russia. He also invited the very Russians who helped orchestrate the attack into the fucking Oval Office. At Putin’s request. And last week the Senate passed, 97-2, stricter sanctions on Russia that Mr. Trump is now actively trying to get the House of Representatives to water down.
And on Monday morning, just hours before Donald J. Trump accused President Obama on Twitter of “colluding” or “obstructing” while Russia attacked our democracy, the AP ran a story with the headline, “Trump eager for big meeting with Putin; some advisers wary.”
Exhibit F: Mr. Trump knowingly helped Russia attack our democracy
I skipped the quid: Donald Trump himself knowingly helped Russia attack our democracy in order to get himself elected. Here’s the “knowingly” part.
Mr. Trump knew months before the election that the hacks were committed by Russia. The intelligence community told Mr. Trump that Russia was behind the DNC hacks as early as August 17.
The hacks also came up in the first debate, where Hillary Clinton said, “Believe me, they’re not doing it to get me elected. They’re doing it to try to influence the election for Donald Trump.” Mr. Trump responded by saying he had no business, no deals, no loans, etc.
They also came up in the second debate, where Mr. Trump said “maybe there is no hacking.” Again, thanks to classified briefings from the intelligence community he’d known this for at least a month. More? Here’s a Failing New York Times story from October 12 with the headline “Obama Considers ‘Proportional Response’ to Russian Hacking in U.S. Election.” And four days after that, in an interview on Meet the Press, Mike Pence himself said there’s “more and more evidence that implicates Russia, and there should be consequences.”
The attack came up again in the third debate, when we had the puppet/no puppet fight. Also in the third debate, Mr. Trump was asked about the hacks directly. His answer sounds familiar:
WALLACE: The top national security officials of this country do believe that Russia has been behind these hacks. Even if you don’t know for sure whether they are, do you condemn any interference by Russia in the American election?
TRUMP: By Russia or anybody else.
WALLACE: You condemn their interference?
TRUMP: Of course I condemn. Of course I—I don’t know Putin. I have no idea.
There are two conclusions you can draw. First, Mr. Trump knew the U.S. government was certain Russia hacked his opponent, released the stolen documents, and spread fake news designed to help him win the election, but Mr. Trump didn’t believe them. The second conclusion is that Mr. Trump knew but wouldn’t, or maybe couldn’t, admit it. Why? Perhaps because he was part of the attack. Everyone knows he was. I give you Exhibit G:
Exhibit G is for, “Goddammit, that’s a lot of tweets.”
Again: Mr. Trump knowingly and willingly helped Russia attack our democracy in order to get himself elected.
First, Mr. Trump publicly encouraged Russia and WikiLeaks to attack his opponent. He asked Russia directly at a July 27 press conference to hack Ms. Clinton. Oh, but he was joking? After telling that joke, he went and tweeted the same fucking thing.
And like I said, it’s the obvious things that go unsaid here. So I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough: Mr. Trump didn’t ask Russia to commit espionage against his political opponent for no reason. He was asking Putin to help him win. (Notably, Mr. Trump didn’t hold another press conference until January. Also notable, during that press conference, Mr. Trump, the President-Elect of the United States, literally explained to the world why it wasn’t possible he paid Russian hookers to pee on each other for his pleasure.)
That’s not all. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Trump helped and was helped by Russia to defeat his political opponent. In fact, Mr. Trump either brought up Wikileaks directly, tweeted links to articles about emails from Wikileaks dumps, or exploited storylines himself from Wikileaks dumps at least 55 times before the election. Fifty-five. And this was just on Twitter.
Here are those tweets. Please note I didn’t provide the links that Mr. Trump provided because I don’t want to contribute to this disinformation attack. If you doubt any of these, you can look them all up here.
And here’s a note to put in your pipe for later: only one of these tweets came before 7:00 AM. Now tell me this wasn’t intentional.
Jul 23, 2016: The Wikileaks e-mail release today was so bad to Sanders that it will make it impossible for him to support her, unless he is a fraud!
Jul 24, 2016: The Crooked Hillary V.P. choice is VERY disrespectful to Bernie Sanders and all of his supporters. Just another case of BAD JUDGEMENT by H!
Jul 24, 2016: Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out [sic]
Jul 24, 2016: Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don’t believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!
Jul 24, 2016: The highly neurotic Debbie Wasserman Schultz is angry that, after stealing and cheating her way to a Crooked Hillary victory, she’s out!
Jul 25, 2016: Crooked Hillary Clinton knew everything that her “servant” was doing at the DNC – they just got caught, that’s all! They laughed at Bernie.
Jul 25, 2016: Here we go again with another Clinton scandal, and e-mails yet (can you believe). Crooked Hillary knew the fix was in, B never had a chance!
Jul 25, 2016: The State of Florida is so embarrassed by the antics of Crooked Hillary Clinton and Debbie Wasserman Schultz that they will vote for CHANGE!
Jul 29, 2016: #CrookedHillary Job Application [cartoon of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz rigging DNC]
Aug 2, 2016: #ICYMI: John Podesta’s Brother Pocketed $180,000 from Putin’s Uranium Company
Aug 13, 2016: We now have confirmation as to one reason Crooked H wanted to be sure that nobody saw her e-mails – PAY-FOR-PLAY. How can she run for Pres?
Note: On August 17, Mr. Trump receives his first-ever intelligence briefing. Gov. Chris Christie and Gen. Mike Flynn accompany him. The agents tell them, among other things, that the intelligence community knows that Russia is behind the WikiLeaks dumps and DNC hacks. Mike Flynn goes bonkers at this and Christie must restrain him. Note the gap between now and the next flurry of WikiLeaks references.
Sep 3, 2016: .@CNN is so disgusting in their bias, but they are having a hard time promoting Crooked Hillary in light of the new e-mail scandals.
Sep 4, 2016: The polls are close so Crooked Hillary is getting out of bed and will campaign tomorrow.Why did she hammer 13 devices and acid-wash e-mailslink [sic]
Oct 11, 2016: I hope people are looking at the disgraceful behavior of Hillary Clinton as exposed by WikiLeaks. She is unfit to run.
Oct 11, 2016: Wow, @CNN Town Hall questions were given to Crooked Hillary Clinton in advance of big debates against Bernie Sanders. Hillary & CNN FRAUD!
Oct 12, 2016: Very little pick-up by the dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks. So dishonest! Rigged system!
Oct 16, 2016: A country that Crooked Hillary says has funded ISIS also gave Wild Bill $1 million for his birthday? SO CORRUPT!
Oct 16, 2016: “The vast majority felt she should be prosecuted…” — even senior FBI officials thought Crooked was guilty.
Oct 16, 2016: Wow, interview released by Wikileakes [sic] shows “quid pro quo” in Crooked Hillary e-mail probe.Such a dishonest person – & Paul Ryan does zilch! [sic]
Oct 16, 2016: We’ve all wondered how Hillary avoided prosecution for her email scheme. Wikileaks may have found the answer. Obama!
Oct 17, 2016: WikiLeaks proves even the Clinton campaign knew Crooked mishandled classified info, but no one gets charged? RIGGED!
Oct 17, 2016: Voter fraud! Crooked Hillary Clinton even got the questions to a debate, and nobody says a word. Can you imagine if I got the questions?
Oct 17, 2016: Crooked Hillary colluded w/FBI and DOJ and media is covering up to protect her. It’s a #RiggedSystem!
Oct 18, 2016: ‘Food Groups’ – Emails Show Clinton Campaign Organized Potential VPs By Race And Gender
Oct 18, 2016: ‘Clinton Campaign Tried to Limit Damage From Classified Info on Email Server’ #DrainTheSwamp
Oct 18, 2016: Pay-to-play. Collusion. Cover-ups. And now bribery? So CROOKED. I will #DrainTheSwamp.
Oct 18, 2016: If we let Crooked run the govt, history will remember 2017 as the year America lost its independence. #DrainTheSwamp
Oct 19, 2016: Bernie Sanders on HRC: Bad Judgement. John Podesta on HRC: Bad Instincts. #BigLeagueTruth #Debate
Oct 19, 2016: More Anti-Catholic Emails From Team Clinton
Oct 19, 2016: ‘Hillary Clinton Deleted Emails With Her Email Server Technician’
Oct 19, 2016: Crooked’s camp incited violence at my rallies. These incidents weren’t “spontaneous” – like she claimed in Benghazi!
Oct 19, 2016: Crooked @HillaryClinton’s foundation is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. Time to #DrainTheSwamp! #BigLeagueTruth #Debate
Oct 20, 2016: Why didn’t Hillary Clinton announce that she was inappropriately given the debate questions – she secretly used them! Crooked Hillary.
Oct 20, 2016: Want access to Crooked Hillary? Don’t forget – it’s going to cost you! #DrainTheSwamp #PayToPlay
Oct 20, 2016: Crooked took MILLIONS from oppressive ME countries. Will she give the $$$ back? Probably not. Don’t forget her slogan.
Oct 21 2016: #CrookedHillary “was at center of negotiating $12M commitment from King Mohammed VI of Morocco” to Clinton Fdn.
Oct 21, 2016: {Crooked Hillary Clinton} created this mess, and she knows it. #DrainTheSwamp [links to pieces about Huma/Morocco money]
Oct 21, 2016: Huma calls it a “MESS,” the rest of us call it CORRUPT! WikiLeaks catches Crooked in the act – again. #DrainTheSwamp
Oct 21, 2016: WikiLeaks reveals Clinton camp’s work with ‘VERY friendly and malleable reporters’ #DrainTheSwamp #CrookedHillary
Oct 21, 2016: #CrookedHillary sending U.S. intelligence info. [sic] to Podesta’s hacked email is ‘unquestionably an OPSEC violation’
Oct 22, 2016: WikiLeaks: ‘Clinton-Kaine Even Lied About Timing of Veep Pick’
Oct 22, 2016: ‘Huma Abedin told Clinton her secret email account caused problems’
Oct 23, 2016: #CrookedHillary #PayToPlay
Oct 23, 2016: ‘Clinton Charity Got Up To $56 Million From Nations That Are Anti-Women, Gays’ #CrookedHillary
Oct 24, 2016: Why has nobody asked Kaine about the horrible views emanated on WikiLeaks about Catholics? Media in the tank for Clinton but Trump will win!
Oct 27, 2016: ‘WikiLeaks Drip-Drop Releases Prove One Thing: There’s No Nov. 8 Deadline on Clinton’s Dishonesty and Scandals’
Oct 28, 2016: If my people said the things about me that Podesta & Hillary’s people said about her, I would fire them out of self respect. “Bad instincts”
Nov 1, 2016: ‘Podesta urged Clinton team to hand over emails after use of private server emerged’
Nov 1, 2016: WikiLeaks emails reveal Podesta urging Clinton camp to ‘dump’ emails. Time to #DrainTheSwamp!
Nov 1, 2016: So terrible that Crooked didn’t report she got the debate questions from Donna Brazile, if that were me it would have been front page news!
Nov 2, 2016: Clinton camp fumed when surrogate told supporters Clinton planned to betray labor on TPP post-election
Nov 4, 2016: “The Clinton Campaign at Obama Justice” #DrainTheSwamp
Nov 4, 2016: Clinton Aides: ‘Definitely’ Not Releasing Some HRC Emails
Nov 5, 2016: ‘Must Act Immediately’: Clinton Charity Lawyer Told Execs They Were Breaking The Law
Nov 5, 2016: Top Clinton Aides Bemoan Campaign ‘All Tactics,’ No Vision
But wait, there’s more!
Exhibit H: He’s guilty as hell
And here we are. Perhaps the best, or at least the most readily available, indicator of Mr. Trump’s guilt is Mr. Trump himself. And so I give you this:
Mr. Trump has tweeted about the Russia investigation 181 times in the last 196 days. (Note: I submitted this last night. There’s a pretty good chance Mr. Trump tweeted about Russia this morning. If so, add one day and the number of tweets. I’m guessing there were at least three.)
I chose to start with December 12, when the intelligence community published its consensus assessment that Putin interfered with the election with the intention of getting Mr. Trump elected. It’s the first time Mr. Trump tweeted about Russia after the election.
Of course, the tweets aren’t evenly distributed. On nine different days, Mr. Trump tweeted about the Russia investigation more than five times. The most tweets in one day (either seven or nine, depending how you count it) came on May 10, the day after Mr. Trump fired Mr. Comey and the day Putin got Russian officials into the Oval Office. The longest break between tweets was 24 days, from January 15 to February 7, but I’ll point out this was the run-up to the inauguration and the frenzy of the first weeks in office (during which, remember, Mr. Trump was unilaterally trying to get Russia sanctions lifted). The second-longest break was 13 days. Other than that, the breaks are quite short indeed.
Is this the behavior of an innocent man? A victim of a hoax? Of a witch hunt? He contradicts himself countless times in his tweets alone. Perhaps the most obvious question: why doesn’t he just shut up and encourage the investigation, do all he can to get it over with? After all, it would just conclude that he’s not guilty, and that would be the end of the Democrats. Obama’s legacy might never recover, and the GOP would lock up at least the next two elections.
But Russia seems to be getting Mr. Trump up earlier and earlier. It’s often the first thing on his mind when he wakes up. Even Mr. Trump’s hand-picked Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, has said that Mr. Trump seems “obsessed” with Russia and asked him to declare Mr. Trump’s innocence. And of these 181 tweets, more than half of them (93 total) were sent before 9:00 AM (marked here with *). A full 30% (55 tweets) were sent before 7:00 AM. I’ve marked those times in bold.
*Dec 12, 2016: Can you imagine if the election results were the opposite and WE tried to play the Russia/CIA card. It would be called conspiracy theory!
*Dec 12, 2016: Unless you catch “hackers” in the act, it is very hard to determine who was doing the hacking. Why wasn’t this brought up before election?
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?
*Dec 16, 2016, 6:09 AM: Are we talking about the same cyberattack where it was revealed that head of the DNC illegally gave Hillary the questions to the debate?
Dec 23, 2016: Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: “In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity.” So true!
Dec 30, 2016: Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!
Dec 30, 2016: Russians are playing @CNN and @NBCNews for such fools – funny to watch, they don’t have a clue! @FoxNews totally gets it!
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!
*Jan 4, 2017: Julian Assange said “a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta” – why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!
*Jan 4, 2017: “@FoxNews: Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: “It’s very dishonest.” #Hannity More dishonest than anyone knows
*Jan 4, 2017: Somebody hacked the DNC but why did they not have “hacking defense” like the RNC has and why have they not responded to the terrible……
*Jan 4, 2017: things they did and said (like giving the questions to the debate to H). A total double standard! Media, as usual, gave them a pass
*Jan 5, 2017: The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange – wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people….
*Jan 5, 2017: to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against “Intelligence” when in fact I am a big fan!
Jan 5, 2017: How did NBC get “an exclusive look into the top secret report he (Obama) was presented?” Who gave them this report and why? Politics!
Jan 5, 2017: The Democratic National Committee would not allow the FBI to study or see its computer info after it was supposedly hacked by Russia……
Jan 5, 2017: So how and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer servers? What is going on?
Jan 6, 2017: I am asking the chairs of the House and Senate committees to investigate top secret intelligence shared with NBC prior to me seeing it.
Jan 6, 2017: Gross negligence by the Democratic National Committee allowed hacking to take place. The Republican National Committee had strong defense!
*Jan 7, 2017, 6:56 AM: Intelligence stated very strongly there was absolutely no evidence that hacking affected the election results. Voting machines not touched!
*Jan 7, 2017, 07:03 AM: Only reason the hacking of the poorly defended DNC is discussed is that the loss by the Dems was so big that they are totally embarrassed!
Jan 7, 2017: Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only “stupid” people, or fools, would think that it is bad! We…..
Jan 7, 2017: ….have enough problems around the world without yet another one. When I am President, Russia will respect us far more than they do now….
Jan 7, 2017: both countries will, perhaps, work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the WORLD!
Jan 8, 2017: “@FoxNews: “We certainly don’t want intelligence interfering with politics and we don’t want politics interfe…
Jan 8, 2017: RT @MeetThePress: Watch our interview with @KellyannePolls: Russia “did not succeed” in attempts to sway election
Jan 8, 2017: Before I, or anyone, saw the classified and/or highly confidential hacking intelligence report, it was leaked out to @NBCNews. So serious!
Jan 10, 2017: FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!
Jan 10, 2017: RT @MichaelCohen212: I have never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews
Jan 10, 2017: ‘BuzzFeed Runs Unverifiable Trump-Russia Claims’ #FakeNews
*Jan 11, 2017: Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is “A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.” Very unfair!
*Jan 11, 2017: Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA – NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!
*Jan 11, 2017: I win an election easily, a great “movement” is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state!
*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?
*Jan 12, 2017: James Clapper called me yesterday to denounce the false and fictitious report that was illegally circulated. Made up, phony facts.Too bad!
Jan 12, 2017: .@CNN is in a total meltdown with their FAKE NEWS because their ratings are tanking since election and their credibility will soon be gone!
*Jan 13, 2017, 6:05 AM: It now turns out that the phony allegations against me were put together by my political opponents and a failed spy afraid of being sued….
*Jan 13, 2017, 6:11 AM: Totally made up facts by sleazebag political operatives, both Democrats and Republicans – FAKE NEWS! Russia says nothing exists. Probably…
*Jan 13, 2017, 6:16 AM: released by “Intelligence” even knowing there is no proof, and never will be. My people will have a full report on hacking within 90 days!
Note: It’s been over 150 days and we still haven’t seen this report. Mr. Trump hasn’t mentioned it again.
*Jan 13, 2017, 6:22 AM: What are Hillary Clinton’s people complaining about with respect to the F.B.I. Based on the information they had she should never…..
*Jan 13, 2017, 6:25 AM: have been allowed to run – guilty as hell. They were VERY nice to her. She lost because she campaigned in the wrong states – no enthusiasm!
*Jan 14, 2017: INTELLIGENCE INSIDERS NOW CLAIM THE TRUMP DOSSIER IS “A COMPLETE FRAUD!” @OANN
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…
Jan 15, 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?
Jan 15, 2017: Thank you to Bob Woodward who said, “That is a garbage document…it never should have been presented…Trump’s right to be upset (angry)…
Jan 15, 2017: about that…Those Intelligence chiefs made a mistake here, & when people make mistakes, they should APOLOGIZE.” Media should also apologize
*Feb 7, 2017: I don’t know Putin, have no deals in Russia, and the haters are going crazy – yet Obama can make a deal with Iran, #1 in terror, no problem!
Note: This was in response to himself. In an interview with Bill O’Reilly, Mr. Trump expressed admiration for Putin while disdaining the United States
Feb 14, 2017: The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?
*Feb 15, 2017, 6:40 AM: The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!
*Feb 15, 2017: This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton’s losing campaign.
*Feb 15, 2017: Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?).Just like Russia
Note: He’s likening the US intelligence community to Russia’s
*Feb 15, 2017: Crimea was TAKEN by Russia during the Obama Administration. Was Obama too soft on Russia?
*Feb 15, 2017: Thank you to Eli Lake of The Bloomberg View – “The NSA & FBI…should not interfere in our politics…and is” Very serious situation for USA
*Feb 15, 2017: The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by “intelligence” like candy. Very un-American!
*Feb 16, 2017, 6:58 AM: Leaking, and even illegal classified leaking, has been a big problem in Washington for years. Failing @nytimes (and others) must apologize!
*Feb 16, 2017: The spotlight has finally been put on the low-life leakers! They will be caught!
Feb 16, 2017: FAKE NEWS media, which makes up stories and “sources,” is far more effective than the discredited Democrats – but they are fading fast!
Feb 16, 2017: The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306), so they made up a story – RUSSIA. Fake news!
*Feb 24, 2017: The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security “leakers” that have permeated our government for a long time. They can’t even……
*Feb 24, 2017: find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on U.S. FIND NOW
Feb 26, 2017: Russia talk is FAKE NEWS put out by the Dems, and played up by the media, in order to mask the big election defeat and the illegal leaks!
Mar 2, 2017: Jeff Sessions is an honest man. He did not say anything wrong. He could have stated his response more accurately, but it was clearly not….
Mar 2, 2017: …intentional. This whole narrative is a way of saving face for Democrats losing an election that everyone thought they were supposed…..
Mar 2, 2017: …to win. The Democrats are overplaying their hand. They lost the election, and now they have lost their grip on reality. The real story…
Mar 2, 2017: …is all of the illegal leaks of classified and other information. It is a total “witch hunt!”
Mar 3, 2017: We should start an immediate investigation into @SenSchumer and his ties to Russia and Putin. A total hypocrite!
Mar 3, 2017: I hereby demand a second investigation, after Schumer, of Pelosi for her close ties to Russia, and lying about it.
*Mar 4, 2017, 6:26 AM: The first meeting Jeff Sessions had with the Russian Amb was set up by the Obama Administration under education program for 100 Ambs……
*Mar 4, 2017, 6:35 AM: Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my “wires tapped” in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!
*Mar 4, 2017, 6:42 AM: Just out: The same Russian Ambassador that met Jeff Sessions visited the Obama White House 22 times, and 4 times last year alone.
*Mar 4, 2017, 6:49 AM: Is it legal for a sitting President to be “wire tapping” a race for president prior to an election? Turned down by court earlier. A NEW LOW!
*Mar 4, 2017 6:52 AM: I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!
*Mar 4, 2017: How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!
*Mar 5, 2017, 6:32 AM: Is it true the DNC would not allow the FBI access to check server or other equipment after learning it was hacked? Can that be possible?
*Mar 5, 2017, 6:40 AM: Who was it that secretly said to Russian President, “Tell Vladimir that after the election I’ll have more flexibility?” @foxandfriends
Mar 7, 2017: For eight years Russia “ran over” President Obama, got stronger and stronger, picked-off Crimea and added missiles. Weak! @foxandfriends
*Mar 20, 2017, 5:35 AM: James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia. This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it!
Note: This is the day James Comey was scheduled to give his first public testimony on the Russia scandal.
*Mar 20, 2017, 5:49 AM: The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign. Big advantage in Electoral College & lost!
*Mar 20, 2017, 6:02 AM: The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!
Mar 20, 2017 What about all of the contact with the Clinton campaign and the Russians? Also, is it true that the DNC would not let the FBI in to look?
Mar 22, 2017: RT @mitchellvii: EXACTLY AS I SAID – House Intel Chair: We Cannot Rule Out Sr. Obama Officials Were Involved in Trump Surveillance
Mar 23, 2017: Just watched the totally biased and fake news reports of the so-called Russia story on NBC and ABC. Such dishonesty!
Mar 27, 2017: Why isn’t the House Intelligence Committee looking into the Bill & Hillary deal that allowed big Uranium to go to Russia, Russian speech….
Mar 27, 2017: …money to Bill, the Hillary Russian “reset,” praise of Russia by Hillary, or Podesta Russian Company. Trump Russia story is a hoax. #MAGA!
*Mar 28, 2017, 6:16 AM: Watch @foxandfriends now on Podesta and Russia!
Mar 28, 2017: Why doesn’t Fake News talk about Podesta ties to Russia as covered by @FoxNews or money from Russia to Clinton – sale of Uranium?
*Mar 29, 2017: If the people of our great country could only see how viciously and inaccurately my administration is covered by certain media!
Note: The NYT published a story that the Senate Intelligence Community was going to interview Jared Kushner about his secret meeting with the Russian Ambassador (and Mike Flynn) in Trump Tower.
*Mar 31, 2017, 6:04 AM: Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!
*Apr 1, 2017: When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story?
*Apr 1, 2017: It is the same Fake News Media that said there is “no path to victory for Trump” that is now pushing the phony Russia story. A total scam!
Apr 1, 2017: Wow, @FoxNews just reporting big news. Source: “Official behind unmasking is high up. Known Intel official is responsible. Some unmasked….
Apr 1, 2017: ..not associated with Russia. Trump team spied on before he was nominated.” If this is true, does not get much bigger. Would be sad for U.S.
*Apr 3, 2017, 5:15 AM: Such amazing reporting on unmasking and the crooked scheme against us by @foxandfriends. “Spied on before nomination.” The real story.
*Apr 3, 2017, 6:16 AM: Was the brother of John Podesta paid big money to get the sanctions on Russia lifted? Did Hillary know?
*Apr 3, 2017, 6:21 AM: Did Hillary Clinton ever apologize for receiving the answers to the debate? Just asking!
*Apr 3, 2017: .@FoxNews from multiple sources: “There was electronic surveillance of Trump, and people close to Trump. This is unprecedented.” @FBI
Apr 4, 2017: RT @DRUDGE_REPORT: RICE ORDERED SPY DOCS ON TRUMP?
*Apr 13, 2017: Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!
*Apr 17, 2017: The Fake Media (not Real Media) has gotten even worse since the election. Every story is badly slanted. We have to hold them to the truth! [Regarding a story April 16 that the FBI had a FISA warrant on Carter Page]
Apr 28, 2017: RT @foxnation: . @TuckerCarlson : #Dems Don’t Really Believe #Trump Is a Pawn of #Russia – That’s Just Their Political Tool
May 2, 2017: FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds! The phony…
May 2, 2017: …Trump/Russia story was an excuse used by the Democrats as justification for losing the election. Perhaps Trump just ran a great campaign?
*May 4, 2017, 5:40 AM: Susan Rice, the former National Security Advisor to President Obama, is refusing to testify before a Senate Subcommittee next week on…..
*May 4, 2017, 5:49 AM: …allegations of unmasking Trump transition officials. Not good!
*May 4, 2017, 6:02 AM: The Fake News media is officially out of control. They will do or say anything in order to get attention – never been a time like this!
*May 7, 2017, 6:15 AM: When will the Fake Media ask about the Dems dealings with Russia & why the DNC wouldn’t allow the FBI to check their server or investigate?
*May 8, 2017, 6:57 AM: General Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration – but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that.
May 8, 2017 Ask Sally Yates, under oath, if she knows how classified information got into the newspapers soon after she explained it to W.H. Counsel.
Note: The above two tweets came in advance of the Yates-Clapper public congressional testimony.
May 8, 2017: Director Clapper reiterated what everybody, including the fake media already knows- there is “no evidence” of collusion w/ Russia and Trump.
May 8, 2017: Sally Yates made the fake media extremely unhappy today —- she said nothing but old news!
May 8, 2017: The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?
May 8, 2017: Biggest story today between Clapper & Yates is on surveillance. Why doesn’t the media report on this? #FakeNews!
May 9, 2017: Cryin’ Chuck Schumer stated recently, “I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer.” Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp
*May 10, 2017, 6:10 AM: The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!
*May 10, 2017, 6:19 AM: James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.
Note: It’s been over 40 days and we still have no FBI director. Even the public shortlist has been scrapped because so many prospective nominees withdrew. Does Mr. Trump want the Russia investigation to continue? Does he care about national security and counterterrorism operations? Which seems to weigh more for thim: Having someone in charge of counterterrorism or having someone not heading the FBI’s Russia investigation?
*May 10, 2017, 6:27 AM: Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!
*May 10, 2017: Watching Senator Richard Blumenthal speak of Comey is a joke. “Richie” devised one of the greatest military frauds in U.S. history. For….
May 10, 2017: years, as a pol in Connecticut, Blumenthal would talk of his great bravery and conquests in Vietnam – except he was never there. When….
May 10, 2017: caught, he cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness…and now he is judge & jury. He should be the one who is investigated for his acts.
May 10, 2017: The Roger Stone report on @CNN is false – Fake News. Have not spoken to Roger in a long time – had nothing to do with my decision.
May 10, 2017: Dems have been complaining for months & months about Dir. Comey. Now that he has been fired they PRETEND to be aggrieved. Phony hypocrites!
May 10, 2017: The Democrats should be ashamed. This is a disgrace! #DrainTheSwamp [Links out to a video of Bernie Sanders talking about Comey.]
May 11, 2017: We finally agree on something Rosie. [Links to Rosie O’Donnell tweet calling for Comey to be fired.]
May 11, 2017: Russia must be laughing up their sleeves watching as the U.S. tears itself apart over a Democrat EXCUSE for losing the election.
May 11, 2017: Yesterday, on the same day- I had meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the FM of Ukraine [Twitter for iPhone]
Note: He doesn’t mention Ambassador Kislyak, whose name is a political poison pill for Mr. Trump. He also told Lavrov and Kislyak top secret classified information during this visit. Also, this visit came the day after Mr. Trump fired James Comey, whom he told Lavrov and Kislyak was a “total nut job.” Lastly, it’s worth noting that this meeting was arranged by Vladimir Putin, who no doubt timed it on the same day as Trump’s meeting with the Ukrainian president not to make Mr. Trump look like a peacemaker, but to send a message to Ukraine that he can access Mr. Trump at will.
*May 12, 2017, 06:51 AM: Again, the story that there was collusion between the Russians & Trump campaign was fabricated by Dems as an excuse for losing the election.
*May 12, 2017, 06:53 AM: The Fake Media is working overtime today! [Re: Comey meeting/memo story]
*May 12, 2017, 06:59 AM: As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy!….
*May 12, 2017: …Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future “press briefings” and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy??? [Re: White House response to Comey firing.]
*May 12, 2017: James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!
*May 12, 2017: When James Clapper himself, and virtually everyone else with knowledge of the witch hunt, says there is no collusion, when does it end?
*May 16, 2017, 06:03 AM: As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining….
*May 16, 2017, 06:13 AM: …to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.
*May 16, 2017, 7:10 AM: I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community…..
*May 18, 2017, 6:39 AM: With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed! [Later deleted, spelling corrected.]
*May 18, 2017, 6:52 AM: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!
*May 28, 2017: It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media.
*May 28, 2017: Whenever you see the words ‘sources say’ in the fake news media, and they don’t mention names….
*May 28, 2017: ….it is very possible that those sources don’t exsist but are made up by fake news writers. #FakeNews is the enemy!
Note: All in response to the story that Jared Kushner tried to set up a backchannel for talks with Russia, going around the US intelligence community to use Russian encrypted communication services at Russian diplomatic compounds in the United States.
*May 30, 2017, 06:04 AM: Russian officials must be laughing at the U.S. & how a lame excuse for why the Dems lost the election has taken over the Fake News.
May 30, 2017: RT @foxandfriends: Jared Kushner didn’t suggest Russian communications channel in meeting, source says
*May 31, 2017, 05:37 AM: So now it is reported that the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russia, don’t want him to testify. He blows away their….
*May 31, 2017, 5:45 AM: …case against him & now wants to clear his name by showing “the false or misleading testimony by James Comey, John Brennan…” Witch Hunt!
May 31, 2017: Crooked Hillary Clinton now blames everybody but herself, refuses to say she was a terrible candidate. Hits Facebook & even Dems & DNC.
Note: In response to an interview Clinton gave in which she blamed Russian interference in part for Trump’s victory.
*Jun 1, 2017, 6:05 AM: The big story is the “unmasking and surveillance” of people that took place during the Obama Administration.
*Jun 9, 2017, 5:10 AM: Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication…and WOW, Comey is a leaker!
*Jun 9, 2017, 5:54 AM: Great reporting by @foxandfriends and so many others. Thank you! [Regarding Comey’s testimony the day before]
Jun 9, 2017: RT @AlanDersh: We should stop talking about obstruction of justice. No plausible case. We must distinguish crimes from pol sins
*Jun 11, 2017, 7:29 AM: I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very ‘cowardly!’
Jun 11, 2017: RT @foxandfriends: “Yesterday’s hearings provided zero evidence of collusion between our campaign and the Russians because there wasn’t any…
Jun 11, 2017: RT @foxandfriends: .@GeraldoRivera: Chances of impeachment went from 3% to 0% with Comey’s testimony
*Jun 13, 2017, 5:35 AM: The Fake News Media has never been so wrong or so dirty. Purposely incorrect stories and phony sources to meet their agendaof hate. Sad! [In response to reports that Trump was considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller.]
*Jun 15, 2017, 05:55 AM: They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice
*Jun 15, 2017, 6:57 AM: You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people! #MAGA
Jun 15, 2017: Why is that Hillary Clintons family and Dems dealings with Russia are not looked at, but my non-dealings are?
Jun 15, 2017: Crooked H destroyed phones w/ hammer, ‘bleached’ emails, & had husband meet w/AG days before she was cleared- & they talk about obstruction?
*Jun 16, 2017, 06:53 AM: After 7 months of investigations & committee hearings about my “collusion with the Russians,” nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad!
*Jun 16, 2017: Despite the phony Witch Hunt going on in America, the economic & jobs numbers are great. Regulations way down, jobs and enthusiasm way up!
*Jun 16, 2017: I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt
Jun 16, 2017: RT @seanhannity: #Hannity Starts in 30 minutes with @newtgingrich and my monologue on the Deep State’s allies in the media
*Jun 18, 2017, 5:38 AM: The MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN agenda is doing very well despite the distraction of the Witch Hunt. Many new jobs, high business enthusiasm…
Jun 18, 2017: RT @DiamondandSilk: The Media Says: The President Should Stop Tweeting about Russia. Well, Why Don’t the Media Take Their Own Advice & S…
*Jun 19, 2017, 6:59 AM: Jay Sekulow on @foxandfriends now. [One of Trump’s lawyers, who made glaring contradictions about what Trump meant re: Comey.]
Jun 19, 2017: RT @joegooding: What’s happening in our country isn’t just an assault on our @POTUS @realDonaldTrump it’s an assault on the American people…
Jun 22, 2017: Former Homeland Security Advisor Jeh Johnson is latest top intelligence official to state there was no grand scheme between Trump & Russia.
Jun 22, 2017: By the way, if Russia was working so hard on the 2016 Election, it all took place during the Obama Admin. Why didn’t they stop them?
Jun 22, 2017: …Why did Democratic National Committee turn down the DHS offer to protect against hacks (long prior to election). It’s all a big Dem HOAX!
Jun 22, 2017: …Why did the DNC REFUSE to turn over its Server to the FBI, and still hasn’t? It’s all a big Dem scam and excuse for losing the election!
Jun 22, 2017: With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea…
Jun 22, 2017: …whether there are “tapes” or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.
Jun 23, 2017: Just out: The Obama Administration knew far in advance of November 8th about election meddling by Russia. Did nothing about it. WHY?
Jun 24, 2017: Since the Obama Administration was told way before the 2016 Election that the Russians were meddling, why no action? Focus on them, not T!
Jun 24, 2017: Obama Administration official said they “choked” when it came to acting on Russian meddling of election. They didn’t want to hurt Hillary?
*Jun 25, 2017 Hillary Clinton colluded with the Democratic Party in order to beat Crazy Bernie Sanders. Is she allowed to so collude? Unfair to Bernie!
*Jun 26, 2017 The reason that President Obama did NOTHING about Russia after being notified by the CIA of meddling is that he expected Clinton would win..
*Jun 26, 2017: …and did not want to “rock the boat.” He didn’t “choke,” he colluded or obstructed, and it did the Dems and Crooked Hillary no good.
*Jun 26, 2017: The real story is that President Obama did NOTHING after being informed in August about Russian meddling. With 4 months looking at Russia…
*Jun 26, 2017: ..under a magnifying glass, they have zero “tapes” of T people colluding. There is no collusion & no obstruction. I should be given apology!
And there we are. Back to the election again. Back to Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton, still his nemesis all these months later. Why? Because she beat him, but he stole the election, and now he’s playing his crimes out over and over and over again in his head. He’s so ignorant of America and of the law that, faced with consequences for probably the first time in his whole life— at age 71—he’s trying to convince himself it’s really not his fault.
Look: the only opinion that matters to Mr. Trump is his own. These lies aren’t for you. They’re for him. The crime wasn’t for you either. It wasn’t for the good of America. This is why we need to get rid of Donald Trump as soon as we can. It’s got nothing to do with politics: the president is simply incapable of meeting our greatest national security threat.
Do we get that yet?
This is for the good of our country, for our deeply, perhaps irreparably wounded society, for you and me not hating each other. This is to stop an inevitable shredding of our social contract and, not to be alarmist, but a level of political violence we haven’t seen in America since maybe the Civil War. As long as we lie to ourselves about this, the greater the danger we’ll be in. From Russia, and from each other.