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2020 Election Live Updates: Trump Says He Didn’t Discuss Reported Russian Bounties With Putin 2020 Election Live Updates: Trump Says He Didn’t Discuss Reported Russian Bounties With Putin
(32 minutes later)
President Trump said Tuesday that he had not raised concerns with President Vladimir V. Putin about intelligence suggesting that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan in a recent phone call he had with the country’s leader. President Trump said in a new interview that he had not raised concerns with President Vladimir V. Putin about intelligence suggesting that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan in a recent phone call he had with the country’s leader.
“I have never discussed it with him,” Mr. Trump said in an interview with “Axios on HBO,” parts of which were released on Wednesday morning. “I have never discussed it with him,” Mr. Trump said in the interview, conducted on Tuesday by “Axios on HBO,” which released excerpts Wednesday morning. The full interview is scheduled to air next week.
“That was a phone call to discuss other things,” he said when pressed on why he had not confronted Mr. Putin about the intelligence, which was first reported by The New York Times. Mr. Trump spoke with Mr. Putin by telephone last week, but during a public appearance on Monday, he declined to say whether he had raised the issue during the conversation. “We don’t talk about what we discussed, but we had plenty of discussion,” he told reporters.
Mr. Trump’s comments were made public the morning after he held a White House coronavirus briefing in which he lamented how his approval ratings were lower than two top government medical experts and once again defended the false claim that hydroxychloroquine was a “cure” for the coronavirus. But Mr. Trump was more direct when pressed by the Axios reporter Jonathan Swan on if he had confronted Mr. Putin about the intelligence, which was first reported by The New York Times.
“That was a phone call to discuss other things, and frankly that’s an issue that many people said was fake news,” he said.
Mr. Trump said the purpose of the call was “to discuss nuclear proliferation,” calling that issue “a much bigger problem than global warming.”
Although Mr. Trump cast the bounty allegation as a media fiction, U.S. intelligence analysts found evidence of the scheme credible, although some intelligence officials have higher confidence on the question than others. The intelligence was provided to Mr. Trump in a written briefing in February, but it is unclear whether he read it.
He told Axios that the issue “never reached my desk” because intelligence officials “didn’t think it was real.”
“If it reached my desk I would have done something about it,” he said, adding, “I comprehend extraordinarily well.”
Mr. Trump’s comments to Axios were made public the morning after he held a coronavirus briefing in which he lamented how his approval ratings were lower than two top government medical experts and once again defended the false claim that hydroxychloroquine was a “cure” for the virus.
His dismissive remarks about the bounties, which amounted to a verbal shrug, along with his wandering rhetoric at the briefing offered more evidence that last week’s brief foray into greater political discipline had ended quickly, with polls showing him considerably behind former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and many Americans unhappy with his response to the pandemic.His dismissive remarks about the bounties, which amounted to a verbal shrug, along with his wandering rhetoric at the briefing offered more evidence that last week’s brief foray into greater political discipline had ended quickly, with polls showing him considerably behind former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and many Americans unhappy with his response to the pandemic.
On Tuesday he faced fresh questions about why he had retweeted a viral video the day before that included false claims about hydroxychloroquine. On Tuesday, he faced fresh questions about why he had retweeted a viral video the day before that included false claims about hydroxychloroquine.
And he devolved into self-pity, at one point bemoaning the fact that Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, and Dr. Deborah L. Birx, his administration’s top coronavirus coordinator, have high approval ratings even as his own have sagged.And he devolved into self-pity, at one point bemoaning the fact that Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, and Dr. Deborah L. Birx, his administration’s top coronavirus coordinator, have high approval ratings even as his own have sagged.
“They’re highly thought of — but nobody likes me,” he said.“They’re highly thought of — but nobody likes me,” he said.
“It can only be my personality,” he concluded.“It can only be my personality,” he concluded.
Michigan was expected to be one of the most intense battlegrounds in the country, but Mr. Trump’s campaign has quietly receded from television airwaves in the state in recent weeks.Michigan was expected to be one of the most intense battlegrounds in the country, but Mr. Trump’s campaign has quietly receded from television airwaves in the state in recent weeks.
With Mr. Biden building a steady advantage in the polls, a state that Mr. Trump won narrowly in 2016 threatens to move more firmly back into the Democratic column in 2020.With Mr. Biden building a steady advantage in the polls, a state that Mr. Trump won narrowly in 2016 threatens to move more firmly back into the Democratic column in 2020.
Since the end of June, Mr. Trump has spent more money on ads in 10 other states — with Michigan falling behind even much smaller states like Iowa and Nevada — and in recent days Mr. Trump’s campaign stopped buying ads in Michigan entirely.Since the end of June, Mr. Trump has spent more money on ads in 10 other states — with Michigan falling behind even much smaller states like Iowa and Nevada — and in recent days Mr. Trump’s campaign stopped buying ads in Michigan entirely.
The Biden campaign has more than tripled what Mr. Trump spent on television in Michigan in the last month, by far the most lopsided advantage of any swing state where both are advertising. And in Detroit, the state’s largest media market, the Trump campaign last ran a television ad, outside of national ad buys that include the state, on July 3, according to data from Advertising Analytics.The Biden campaign has more than tripled what Mr. Trump spent on television in Michigan in the last month, by far the most lopsided advantage of any swing state where both are advertising. And in Detroit, the state’s largest media market, the Trump campaign last ran a television ad, outside of national ad buys that include the state, on July 3, according to data from Advertising Analytics.
Mr. Trump faces a trifecta of troubles in Michigan, according to political strategists and state polling: reduced support among less educated white voters in a contest against Mr. Biden compared with Hillary Clinton; motivated Black voters in the state’s urban centers; and suburban voters who continue to flee Mr. Trump’s divisive brand of politics nationwide.Mr. Trump faces a trifecta of troubles in Michigan, according to political strategists and state polling: reduced support among less educated white voters in a contest against Mr. Biden compared with Hillary Clinton; motivated Black voters in the state’s urban centers; and suburban voters who continue to flee Mr. Trump’s divisive brand of politics nationwide.
“Of all the states he won in 2016, Trump would be most hard-pressed to keep Michigan in his column this time around,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster for Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC.“Of all the states he won in 2016, Trump would be most hard-pressed to keep Michigan in his column this time around,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster for Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC.
For those wondering about whom Mr. Biden’s running mate will be, handwritten notes that he held at an event on Tuesday, where he laid out his plan to address systemic racism in the economy, offered a tantalizing clue.For those wondering about whom Mr. Biden’s running mate will be, handwritten notes that he held at an event on Tuesday, where he laid out his plan to address systemic racism in the economy, offered a tantalizing clue.
Written on top was the name of someone thought to be a top contender: Senator Kamala Harris of California. Five talking points followed:Written on top was the name of someone thought to be a top contender: Senator Kamala Harris of California. Five talking points followed:
“Do not hold grudges.” “Campaigned with me & Jill.” “Talented.” “Great help to campaign.” “Great respect for her.”“Do not hold grudges.” “Campaigned with me & Jill.” “Talented.” “Great help to campaign.” “Great respect for her.”
The notes about Ms. Harris — which were captured by photographers and reported by The Associated Press — indicate that he was prepared to field questions about her.The notes about Ms. Harris — which were captured by photographers and reported by The Associated Press — indicate that he was prepared to field questions about her.
That may not mean anything about her likelihood (or not) of being picked. Mr. Biden — who is often quite fond of talking — had relatively little to say when asked on Tuesday about his vice-presidential search. But he did tell reporters one thing: He will make his selection next week.That may not mean anything about her likelihood (or not) of being picked. Mr. Biden — who is often quite fond of talking — had relatively little to say when asked on Tuesday about his vice-presidential search. But he did tell reporters one thing: He will make his selection next week.
Tired of watching Republicans with their own checkered ethics backgrounds attack Mr. Biden over his son’s business dealings in Ukraine, a group of Democratic officials on Wednesday introduced an organization intended to target corruption by congressional Republicans.Tired of watching Republicans with their own checkered ethics backgrounds attack Mr. Biden over his son’s business dealings in Ukraine, a group of Democratic officials on Wednesday introduced an organization intended to target corruption by congressional Republicans.
The group, the Congressional Integrity Project, released the first of what its organizers say will be a series of reports called “Covering for Corruption.” The five-page document aims to highlight what the group calls business self-dealing by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, accusations of which have been reported in the past but that Democrats largely did not highlight during his 2016 re-election campaign or while pushing back against Mr. Johnson’s attempts to investigate the Bidens.The group, the Congressional Integrity Project, released the first of what its organizers say will be a series of reports called “Covering for Corruption.” The five-page document aims to highlight what the group calls business self-dealing by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, accusations of which have been reported in the past but that Democrats largely did not highlight during his 2016 re-election campaign or while pushing back against Mr. Johnson’s attempts to investigate the Bidens.
“For too long, members of Congress like Ron Johnson have put their own personal interests before the needs of the American public, covering for Trump’s corruption and ignoring their oversight responsibilities,” said Kyle Herrig, the new group’s executive director. “While conservatives try to distract the American people with baseless, partisan investigations, we will use every tool at our disposal to stop officials like Johnson from misleading and manipulating voters.”“For too long, members of Congress like Ron Johnson have put their own personal interests before the needs of the American public, covering for Trump’s corruption and ignoring their oversight responsibilities,” said Kyle Herrig, the new group’s executive director. “While conservatives try to distract the American people with baseless, partisan investigations, we will use every tool at our disposal to stop officials like Johnson from misleading and manipulating voters.”
Of course, few Washington politicians have used the federal government to boost their personal business interests more than Mr. Trump has, so it remains to be seen how effective the new organization will be in damaging the political reputation of Mr. Johnson, who doesn’t face re-election until 2022, and other future targets.Of course, few Washington politicians have used the federal government to boost their personal business interests more than Mr. Trump has, so it remains to be seen how effective the new organization will be in damaging the political reputation of Mr. Johnson, who doesn’t face re-election until 2022, and other future targets.
With polls showing Mr. Biden holding a commanding lead, one question keeps popping up: Are these polls missing Trump voters?With polls showing Mr. Biden holding a commanding lead, one question keeps popping up: Are these polls missing Trump voters?
Self-identified Democrats outnumber Republicans in most surveys, sometimes by a wide margin. This might just mean that there are simply more Democrats than Republicans. But to critics, the partisan makeup of most public polls is self-evidently out of step with a closely divided country.Self-identified Democrats outnumber Republicans in most surveys, sometimes by a wide margin. This might just mean that there are simply more Democrats than Republicans. But to critics, the partisan makeup of most public polls is self-evidently out of step with a closely divided country.
There are many reasons the polls might ultimately prove wrong in November, as they did four years ago, but there’s no serious evidence that the polls are systematically missing Republican voters. There’s more evidence to the contrary — that the polls represent Republicans just fine, and Mr. Trump still trails.There are many reasons the polls might ultimately prove wrong in November, as they did four years ago, but there’s no serious evidence that the polls are systematically missing Republican voters. There’s more evidence to the contrary — that the polls represent Republicans just fine, and Mr. Trump still trails.
If it turned out that Democrats were far likelier to respond to telephone surveys than Republicans, then the public polls could be systematically biased — and the critics would be vindicated at the ballot box. But this does not appear to be the case. The polls that are weighted by party registration or primary vote history offer nearly the same picture as those that are not. Arguably, they offer a picture even worse for Republicans.If it turned out that Democrats were far likelier to respond to telephone surveys than Republicans, then the public polls could be systematically biased — and the critics would be vindicated at the ballot box. But this does not appear to be the case. The polls that are weighted by party registration or primary vote history offer nearly the same picture as those that are not. Arguably, they offer a picture even worse for Republicans.
Back in March, Mr. Trump was doing televised daily briefings about the spread of the coronavirus while preparing to appear at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and was still experimenting on the best ways to attack Mr. Biden
After an interlude in which, spooked by his tanking approval ratings, Mr. Trump stopped his daily TV appearances, the president is once again talking almost daily about the pandemic.
He yanked most of the Republican convention out of Charlotte to Jacksonville, Fla., only to have to cancel that, too, last week when it became clear that few top Republicans wanted to go. The president said this week that he was going to Charlotte after all and would give a speech to the scaled-down gathering of 336 Republican delegates who will formally nominate him for president in a hotel conference room, after they’re done voting on party business like the official rules of a convention that mostly won’t happen.
And not a week goes by without Mr. Trump trotting out more lines slamming Mr. Biden — questioning his energy levels, calling him a pawn for the far left or suggesting the country would devolve into violent unrest if he were elected president.
Mr. Trump has tried outings that defy the timeout most of America’s public life has had to take. But his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., was a disaster and ultimately cost his campaign manager his job. Another rally planned for New Hampshire was canceled when it was clear the crowd would be short of capacity. (The campaign blamed the weather but has not rescheduled the event.) And Mr. Trump has, with one exception, refused to be seen in public wearing a mask, as most of the country has been asked to do to stop the spread of the virus.
So the reality TV president, his poll numbers ever lower, has retreated back to his comfort zone: standing in front of TV cameras, where he can brood in public, spar with reporters and wonder aloud why he’s less popular than the nation’s foremost public health expert, who has delivered a coherent message throughout the crisis and whom the White House has largely forbidden from appearing on television. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, is on to the next thing.
It’s become a familiar — and effective — ad motif in the presidential election for Democrats: Over a cascade of sound bites of President Trump playing down the coronavirus crisis, a graph showing the number of deaths from the virus curves up exponentially.It’s become a familiar — and effective — ad motif in the presidential election for Democrats: Over a cascade of sound bites of President Trump playing down the coronavirus crisis, a graph showing the number of deaths from the virus curves up exponentially.
This week, Jon Ossoff, the Democratic challenger in one of two Georgia Senate races, unveiled a new ad of the same style that spliced in similar comments from his opponent, Senator David Perdue.This week, Jon Ossoff, the Democratic challenger in one of two Georgia Senate races, unveiled a new ad of the same style that spliced in similar comments from his opponent, Senator David Perdue.
The message is a hauntingly familiar one. “The risk to the American people remains very low,” Mr. Trump is heard saying, as an on-screen graph notes 15 coronavirus deaths. That is followed by a clip of Mr. Perdue, saying “the risk of this virus still remains low,” as the death tracker hits 24. Both are heard comparing the coronavirus to the flu, and then downplaying the number of deaths by saying the projections initially had the count higher, while the graph ticks above 100,000 deaths in the United States.The message is a hauntingly familiar one. “The risk to the American people remains very low,” Mr. Trump is heard saying, as an on-screen graph notes 15 coronavirus deaths. That is followed by a clip of Mr. Perdue, saying “the risk of this virus still remains low,” as the death tracker hits 24. Both are heard comparing the coronavirus to the flu, and then downplaying the number of deaths by saying the projections initially had the count higher, while the graph ticks above 100,000 deaths in the United States.
For the final five seconds, the ad switches to a more traditional negative attack. A narrator declares over a series of black-and-white photographs a familiar set of criticisms directed not this time at Mr. Trump but at Mr. Purdue: “ignored the medical experts,” “downplayed the crisis” and “left us unprepared.”For the final five seconds, the ad switches to a more traditional negative attack. A narrator declares over a series of black-and-white photographs a familiar set of criticisms directed not this time at Mr. Trump but at Mr. Purdue: “ignored the medical experts,” “downplayed the crisis” and “left us unprepared.”
The seemingly unending pandemic, and the accompanying economic fallout, has severely hampered Mr. Trump’s re-election effort, as he trails Mr. Biden in numerous national and battleground state polls.The seemingly unending pandemic, and the accompanying economic fallout, has severely hampered Mr. Trump’s re-election effort, as he trails Mr. Biden in numerous national and battleground state polls.
It’s clearly the one of the main topics on Americans’ minds, and it is likely that many more ads like Mr. Ossoff’s will begin to run in states like North Carolina, Arizona, Montana and Maine where Democrats are growing increasingly hopeful at turning the Senate blue.It’s clearly the one of the main topics on Americans’ minds, and it is likely that many more ads like Mr. Ossoff’s will begin to run in states like North Carolina, Arizona, Montana and Maine where Democrats are growing increasingly hopeful at turning the Senate blue.
Reporting was contributed by Nate Cohn, Nick Corasaniti, Michael Crowley, Reid J. Epstein, Shane Goldmacher, Kathleen Gray, Thomas Kaplan and Matt Stevens.Reporting was contributed by Nate Cohn, Nick Corasaniti, Michael Crowley, Reid J. Epstein, Shane Goldmacher, Kathleen Gray, Thomas Kaplan and Matt Stevens.