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Trump Says Countries Other Than Russia Could Have Interfered in Election, Rips Obama's Response

July 6, 2017

President Donald Trump said on Thursday morning that Russia may not have been the only country that interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

NBC correspondent Hallie Jackson asked Trump if he believed that Russia interfered in the election.

"Well, I think it was Russia and I think it could have been other people in other countries, could have been a lot of people interfered," Trump said. "I've said it very simply, I think it could very well have been Russia, but I think it could well have been other countries and I won't be specific."

Trump then turned to how then-President Barack Obama responded to reports of Russian interference.

"Now, the thing I have to mention is that Barack Obama, when he was president found out about this in terms of if it were Russia, found out about it in August," Trump said. "Now, the election was in November. That's a lot of time, he did nothing about it."

Trump said he thought Obama's lack of action was due to his predecessor believing fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton would win the election anyway.

"He was told it was Russia by the CIA, as I understand it. It was well reported and he did nothing about it. They say he choked. Well, I don't think he choked," Trump said. "I think what happened is he thought Hillary Clinton was going to win the election, and he said, 'Let's not do anything about it.' Had he thought the other way, he would have done something about it."