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Trump: I ‘Would’ Hold Putin Responsible for 2016 Election Interference

“I let him know we can’t have this,” the president said in an interview with CBS.

In an interview with CBS’ Jeff Glor Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he “would” hold Russian President Vladimir Putin “responsible” for Russian interference in the 2016 election. When asked whether Russia did meddle in the election, Trump replied: “I have said that numerous times before, and I would say that is true, yeah.” The president said he would hold Putin responsible “because he’s in charge of the country. Just like I consider myself to be responsible for things that happen in this country.” During the meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Trump said he told his Russian counterpart that “we can’t have meddling.” “I let him know we can’t have this, we’re not going to have it, and that’s the way it’s going to be,” he said. Trump also took a shot at his predecessor, Barack Obama, in the CBS interview. “President Obama supposedly made a strong statement—nobody heard it. What they did hear is a statement he made to Putin’s very close friend,” Trump said, referring to Obama’s comment to then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promising “more flexibility” in relations after the 2012 election. “[T]hat statement was not acceptable. Didn't get very much play relatively speaking. But that statement was not acceptable.” During a press conference in Helsinki Monday, Trump said he held “both countries” responsible for the interference, calling the U.S. “foolish.”