In a stupendous turn of events, President Donald Trump finally admitted that Russia helped him get elected — ending years of “will they, won’t they.” His remarks came one day after Special Counsel Robert Mueller stated that he was closing his investigation, but not without the confidence that “the president clearly did not commit a crime.”
Mueller’s statement was open to interpretation on both sides of the aisle, however Trump apparently sees this as a clear-cut win — despite the fact that Congress will still get a crack at Mueller’s findings — and as a result, perhaps got a bit too confident.
“Russia, Russia, Russia! That’s all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax,” Trump tweeted early Thursday morning. “And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected.”
“It was a crime that didn’t exist, he continued, once again citing “presidential harassment,” which is still a thing that does not exist.
….say he fought back against this phony crime that didn’t exist, this horrendous false accusation, and he shouldn’t fight back, he should just sit back and take it. Could this be Obstruction? No, Mueller didn’t find Obstruction either. Presidential Harassment!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
Less than an hour later, Trump walked back his remarks while departing the White House for Colorado Springs. “No, Russia did not help me get elected. I got me elected,” he told reporters.
Trump flatly denies a tweet he posted just an hour earlier, now claims "Russia did not help me get elected." pic.twitter.com/vao8kFQcZQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 30, 2019
For one thing, his follow-up statement is questionable … but c’mon man, we all saw what you tweeted. As such, people were quick to express their astonishment (and ridicule) on Twitter.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) May 30, 2019
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) May 30, 2019
After tweeting 20 minutes ago that he had no role in “Russia helping me to get elected,” President Trump now tells reporters Russia did not help him get elected.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 30, 2019
Russia help you do what? 👀👀👀 https://t.co/c3pLEcWVHA
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 30, 2019
"I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected." Jaw-dropping. https://t.co/521XhKSEsE
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) May 30, 2019
Lincoln: "four score and seven years ago"
FDR: "nothing to fear but fear itself"
Truman: "the buck stops here"
Eisenhower: "beware the military-industrial complex"
JFK: "ask not what your country can do for you"
Trump: "I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected"— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) May 30, 2019
So let me get this straight:
the guy who literally, publicly called for the Russians to interfere in the election to help him win, is now a) admitting they helped him win and b)mad that people keep talking about Russia interfering in our election? https://t.co/qbYxoswNJv
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) May 30, 2019
“I had nothing to do with Russia helping me get elected.”
Well, that’s half the confession right there. https://t.co/z93nCj60aV
— Phil (Newsletter link in bio) Plait (@BadAstronomer) May 30, 2019
"I had nothing to do with Russia helping me get elected."
-Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/R2DToots/status/1134070302911205376
As they say… Git ‘er done, Congress.