Sides with Putin over U.S. intelligence at Helsinki summit: "I don't see any reason why it would be" Russia

At a joint press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Trump refused to support U.S. intelligence agencies' unanimous conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, instead siding with Putin's denials. When asked directly, Trump said "My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me, and some others, they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia. I will say this, I don't see any reason why it would be." He added "I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today." The stunning display of deference to Putin over America's own intelligence community drew immediate bipartisan condemnation, with Republican Senator John McCain calling it "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." Former CIA Director John Brennan called Trump's comments "nothing short of treasonous."

"My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me, and some others, they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia. I will say this, I don't see any reason why it would be." — July 16, 2018 joint press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, when asked about Russian interference in the 2016 election