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Trump: Russia Investigation Makes U.S. ‘Look Very Bad’

In New York Times interview, president railed against Russia probe, China, and the media.

In an interview with The New York Times, President Donald Trump complained that the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election “makes the country look very bad, and it puts the country in a very bad position,” although he noted 16 times that the investigation had unearthed no evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia. During the 30-minute interview at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Trump complained about China, which he accused of secretly exporting oil to North Korea. “Oil is going into North Korea. That wasn’t my deal!” he said, suggesting potential action against China, although he also noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping had “treated me better than anybody’s ever been treated in the history of China.” Trump also boasted of knowing “the details of taxes better than anybody. Better than the greatest CPA,” and knowing more about “the big bills” in Congress “than any president that’s ever been in office.” Though he accused the press of covering him unfairly, he claimed journalists would later give him more favorable coverage to ensure he won reelection, which he said would boost their ratings.