Section: POLITICO – U.S. Edition (USA)
Trump takes tougher tone against Putin
After months of extending his hand to Vladimir Putin, is Donald Trump going to get tough on Russia?That’s what the president-elect on Wednesday suggested he might just do, given what he called the “good chance” that he might not get along with the Russian president after all. The claim contradicted Trump’s personal flattery of Putin...
Tillerson on the issues
Rex Tillerson is a bit of a cipher on U.S. foreign policy, unless you view international relations purely through the lens of energy interests.As the former chief executive officer and chairman of ExxonMobil Corp., Tillerson has vast experience dealing with foreign governments, security threats, as well as the State Department. But as an oilman,...
Democrats press Tillerson on Russia
Senate Democrats used the confirmation hearing for secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson on Wednesday to press him on how he will deal with Russia, and to air concerns about Tillerson’s and President-elect Donald Trump’s ties to the Kremlin.Tillerson, in return, said the U.S. must be “clear-eyed” to the danger Russia...
Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump backfire
Donald Trump wasn’t the only presidential candidate whose campaign was boosted by officials of a former Soviet bloc country.Ukrainian government officials tried to help Hillary Clinton and undermine Trump by publicly questioning his fitness for office. They also disseminated documents implicating a top Trump aide in corruption and suggested...
Trump confronts firestorm over Russia allegations
Ten days before he’s sworn in as president, Donald Trump is facing a potential crisis amid reports that U.S. intelligence officials had delivered a report to the president-elect last week outlining allegations that Russia could have compromising information about him.Although the details of these revelations remain murky and unverified,...
Lawmakers broach possible Trump campaign coordination with Russia
Members of Congress made clear Tuesday they’re increasingly willing to broach a taboo topic: possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.Their emboldened approach comes amid a bombshell CNN report that intelligence officials last week presented Trump with alleged claims by Russian operatives that they have...
McCain, Graham to unveil bipartisan Russia sanctions bill
Two of Donald Trump’s fiercest GOP critics on Tuesday will release a bipartisan bill to increase sanctions on Russia over its meddling in November’s presidential election.Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are set to unveil the measure at an afternoon press conference with Democratic Sen. Ben...
Administration report blames Putin for attack on U.S. election, says Russia preferred Trump
The Obama administration on Friday officially blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for directing a massive cyber assault against the U.S. election in an attempt to “undermine” the democratic process and “harm” Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy.And as the campaign progressed, the administration said,...
Conway ‘disappointed’ in media leaks before intel briefing
A senior member of Donald Trump’s transition team expressed disappointment Friday that contents of the intelligence community’s report regarding Russia’s cyberattacks against American political targets were leaked to the media ahead of the president-elect’s scheduled briefing.That report, delivered to President Barack...
Trump’s team tries to stifle rift on Russia
A war is brewing among Donald Trump’s advisers over how to deal with Russia and Vladimir Putin — and his team is trying to keep it from breaking out into the open.As the president-elect’s top national security picks prepare to testify before Congress starting next week, his transition team is plotting ways to prevent a public...
