Did we all miss a major "tell" from Trump himself during the campaign regarding him and Putin?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Last edited Fri Mar 31, 2017, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)

Most people remember Donald Trump's July 27, 2016 rambling, bizarre press conference at his Doral Country Club in Miami (made during the middle of the Democratic National Convention) due to the fact that he seemed to openly invite Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton's emails and leak them to the press. That of course is pretty suggestive of Trump having a motive to work with the Russian government to his benefit. But of course, Trump has continued to insist he was not directly involved with any Russian actions despite this very clear red flag.

Shocking as that statement was, what most people forget was what Trump said several minutes after making that invitation to Putin. It was in response to a question as to whether he think Vladimir Putin would rather deal with him or Hillary Clinton as President.

QUESTION: (inaudible) do you believe that Vladimir Putin would rather deal with President Trump or President Clinton?

TRUMP: I don't think he respects Clinton. I don't think Putin has any respect whatsoever for Clinton. I think he does respect me. And I hope I get along great with him. It's possible that we won't, Jeremy. I hope that we get along great with Putin because it would be great to have Russia with a good relationship.

Right now, we don't have a good relationship. Putin has said things over the last year that are really bad things. OK? He mentioned the "N" word one time. I was shocked to hear him mention the "N" word. You know what the "N" word is, right? He mentioned it. I was shocked.

He has a total lack of respect for President Obama. Number one, he doesn't like him. And number two, he doesn't respect him. I think he's going to respect your president if I'm elected. And I hope he likes me.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/27/donald-trumps-falsehood-laden-press-conference-annotated/?utm_term=.a806762a016a

What was so odd about this statement, both at the time it was made and even moreso now, is that there is no public record of Vladimir Putin ever saying this. None. Had he said this publicly, or even if he had said it privately and it had been leaked out, it would have certainly been a major news story. Possibly even an international incident. And we all would have known about it.

But at the time, everyone was just scratching their heads at what Trump was saying? Was he confused? Was he just making shit up? Why was he talking about Putin using a racial slur when there's no public account of him saying that? Hadn't Trump previously denied never having any sort of conversations with Putin? How would Trump know that?

The answer now is so obvious that it should be slapping us in the face, repeatedly.

The reason why Trump came out and said this was because......it actually had happened. And either he directly, or a member of his staff, had some communications either with Putin directly or through a surrogate where it became known that Vladimir Putin used a racial slur to describe President Obama. But because these were all private, clandestine conversations he and his campaign were having with Russia, they never saw the light of day. Until Trump--being the stupid, impulsive oaf that he is--let it slip out.

He let us know that he and his campaign were having conversations with Putin. Right in front of us. And we more or less missed it, basically because Trump Gish-galloped (or as I say, Trump-trotted) us with so much outrageous stuff (including his invitation to Russia to hack the election) that it got lost in the mix.

This is something to keep kin mind in the upcoming days when Trump inevitably attempts to distance himself from any individuals from his campaign and administration who are revealed to have had conversations with Russia. He'll claim ignorance. He'll repeat the claim that he himself never had anything to do with Putin.

And yet statements, just like that, seem to scream that yes, yes in fact Donald Trump did. And he let us know there. And it bears noting that that was the last press conference that Donald Trump held as a candidate--he wouldn't hold another one until January 2017, after he was elected. And shortly after he said this, the story about Paul Manafort came out in the New York Times and Manafort was forced to step down as campaign chair.

Right there, right in front of us all. He was teasing us with the dark truth.

[DetlefK]

1. Your argument is that the liar accidently told the truth that ONE time?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. He lies when he's confronted.

But he'll impulsively let the truth slip out in settings where he's comfortable and in control.

Like, say, a ballroom of one of his golf clubs.

[woodsprite]

10. Or if he thinks it will buy him prestige or give him a "one-up" on someone. n/t

[mnhtnbb]

2. Eh, I think there's equal chance that Trump was just projecting his own feelings

about Obama (doesn't like him and doesn't respect him) on to Putin; or he was just making the whole
thing up as he often does.

Could he have let slip he actually heard Putin use the "n" word referring to Obama? Possibly. But don't you
think it's also possible Putin would feel free to use such language--if he did--because he would know Trump
would agree with him?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. That's possible, too.

And there are times where Trump is almost convinced about things that never happened: see Muslims celebrating September 11th in New Jersey.

But it was so randomly inserted in there that it didn't even seem like Trump had a reason to make that up, that he had some knowledge--not available to the public--that Putin had said that.

This is all speculative, but it just strikes me very odd that he would come out of nowhere and say it like that.

[FreepFryer]

4. Thoughtful and thought-provoking post!

Don't let naysayers or empty discouragers dissuade u. I agree that you have a very interesting observation here, one worthy of further exploration.

Great job! Keep up the good (detective) work!

[BadgerMom]

11. I agree with Freep Fryer

and ho-lee Toledo!

[underpants]

6. I remember that. I took it as Trump speaking to the racists

By say the N word without actually saying it.

It was proven to be a lie at the time.

[caroldansen]

7. You are absolutely right. We were thinking the same thing. Obviously it happened. But in private.

[Cha]

8. "And, I hope he likes me".. awww, isn't that special.. of course putin

"respects" a lying pu**y grabbing blowhard.. goes right along with his murderous regime.

Thanks for the revelation, Tommy

[SummerSnow]

9. He mentioned the "N" word one time. I was shocked to hear him mention the "N" word.

How did he 'hear' him say the 'N' word if he wasn't in his company?


And "N" is in quotes.