Trump’s ‘sarcastic’ Russia comments no joke
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No joke to to media pundits either
PHILADELPHIA (MarketWatch) — Donald Trump says he was just kidding about inviting Russia to find missing emails from Hillary Clinton’s private server.
But Democrats aren’t buying Trump’s revision of comments he made Wednesday, and his initial statement is almost certain to be thrust back into the spotlight when Clinton accepts the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night.
Thursday morning, Republican nominee Trump told Fox News, “Of course I’m being sarcastic” about the invitation. Speaking in Florida on Wednesday, Trump said: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
Read: Trump says he hopes Russia finds Clinton’s missing emails.
The top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said Trump meant what he said the first time.
“I don’t believe for a minute” that Trump was being sarcastic, Rep. Adam Schiff of California said at an event sponsored by Politico. Schiff said there was a “bromance” between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling them “two hotheads.”
Speaking at the same event, Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump’s statement was “breathtaking” whether he was joking or not.
Trump’s initial statement on the emails came on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, which opened amid a scandal involving the hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s computer servers. U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly told the White House they are confident the Russian government was behind the theft.
The convention closes Thursday night following Clinton’s acceptance speech, during which the former secretary of state will make the case that she is better fit to be commander-in-chief than Trump. President Barack Obama and Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine, addressed attendees Wednesday night.
Read a recap of Obama, Kaine speeches.
Thursday morning on Fox, Trump said Putin is a better leader than Obama. “Obama’s not a leader, so [Putin] is certainly doing a better job than Obama,” Trump said.