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| Trump Tweetwatch: 'I'm a big fan' of intelligence agencies | Trump Tweetwatch: 'I'm a big fan' of intelligence agencies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump often tweets several times a day but doesn't dwell on policy issues and only speaks to the press sporadically. So his 140-character messages are the main insight we have into the thinking of the US president-elect. What can they tell us about his attitude towards US intelligence agencies? | Donald Trump often tweets several times a day but doesn't dwell on policy issues and only speaks to the press sporadically. So his 140-character messages are the main insight we have into the thinking of the US president-elect. What can they tell us about his attitude towards US intelligence agencies? |
| The tweets | The tweets |
| Mr Trump has recently denied he is "against" US intelligence agencies over their claims Russian hackers meddled in the US election. "In fact I'm a big fan," he tweeted at 13:45 EST (18:45 GMT) on Thursday 5 January. | Mr Trump has recently denied he is "against" US intelligence agencies over their claims Russian hackers meddled in the US election. "In fact I'm a big fan," he tweeted at 13:45 EST (18:45 GMT) on Thursday 5 January. |
| His comments appeared to contradict previous tweets pouring scorn on the agencies and their findings. | His comments appeared to contradict previous tweets pouring scorn on the agencies and their findings. |
| They came just days after he had seemed to side with Julian Assange in casting doubt on findings by the FBI and CIA, by repeating the Wikileaks founder's statement that Russia had not passed on information stolen from Democratic Party emails. | |
| What has Mr Trump said before about Russian hacking claims? | What has Mr Trump said before about Russian hacking claims? |
| The FBI first confirmed back in July that it was investigating how thousands of Democratic National Committee emails were stolen. At the time, Mr Trump said allegations from Hillary Clinton's campaign that Russia could have been responsible were "a joke". Russia has itself denied the claims. | The FBI first confirmed back in July that it was investigating how thousands of Democratic National Committee emails were stolen. At the time, Mr Trump said allegations from Hillary Clinton's campaign that Russia could have been responsible were "a joke". Russia has itself denied the claims. |
| Mr Trump remained sceptical, even after both the FBI and the CIA said they were increasingly confident that Russia's government had indeed directed the attacks. | Mr Trump remained sceptical, even after both the FBI and the CIA said they were increasingly confident that Russia's government had indeed directed the attacks. |
| After the CIA went further to suggest Russia's intention was to help Mr Trump in the poll, the US president-elect cast doubt on intelligence agencies' evidence. "Unless you catch 'hackers' in the act, it is very hard to determine who was doing the hacking," he said. | After the CIA went further to suggest Russia's intention was to help Mr Trump in the poll, the US president-elect cast doubt on intelligence agencies' evidence. "Unless you catch 'hackers' in the act, it is very hard to determine who was doing the hacking," he said. |
| He also suggested the issue had not been raised before the 8 November election, which was strange considering Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Gen James Clapper first said he was confident Russia was behind the leaks in October. | He also suggested the issue had not been raised before the 8 November election, which was strange considering Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Gen James Clapper first said he was confident Russia was behind the leaks in October. |
| What has Mr Trump said about working with the intelligence agencies? | What has Mr Trump said about working with the intelligence agencies? |
| Statements from Mr Trump have set the future commander-in-chief at odds with both the intelligence agencies and previous administrations. | Statements from Mr Trump have set the future commander-in-chief at odds with both the intelligence agencies and previous administrations. |
| In December, he said he would only want to hear from intelligence officials every now and then rather than receiving formal briefings five times a week like his predecessors. | In December, he said he would only want to hear from intelligence officials every now and then rather than receiving formal briefings five times a week like his predecessors. |
| "I'm a smart person," he said. "I don't have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day." | "I'm a smart person," he said. "I don't have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day." |
| He has poured scorn on the agencies' intelligence, including in a tweet on 4 January when he implied officials did not have enough proof. | |
| He tweeted: "The "Intelligence" briefing on so-called "Russian hacking" was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" | He tweeted: "The "Intelligence" briefing on so-called "Russian hacking" was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" |
| Does Trump need a daily briefing? | Does Trump need a daily briefing? |
| What happens now? | What happens now? |
| As further information emerges about the alleged Russian hacking, Mr Trump is due to be meeting top intelligence officials to hear about their final report. | As further information emerges about the alleged Russian hacking, Mr Trump is due to be meeting top intelligence officials to hear about their final report. |
| On Thursday US senators heard evidence from Gen Clapper, who said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hack and the motive would be revealed next week. | On Thursday US senators heard evidence from Gen Clapper, who said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hack and the motive would be revealed next week. |
| But Gen Clapper is due to stand down as DNI before Mr Trump's inauguration on 20 January. | But Gen Clapper is due to stand down as DNI before Mr Trump's inauguration on 20 January. |
| Mr Trump's dealings with Gen Clapper's successor - as well as the FBI and CIA - will be one of the early focuses of his presidency. | Mr Trump's dealings with Gen Clapper's successor - as well as the FBI and CIA - will be one of the early focuses of his presidency. |