Our latest book is titled Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics. Among other things, it discusses foreign influence and Trump's attack on democracy. Russia helped Trump through 2020. As Russia began its latest invasion of Ukraine, Trump lavished praise on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
During his first impeachment, he falsely accused Ukraine of interfering in the 2016 election.
Trump interview on Fox and Friends, November 22, 2019:
A lot of it had to do, they say, with Ukraine.
Brian Kilmeade: (06:00)
But Mr. President-
Donald Trump: (06:02)
It’s very interesting. They have the server, right, from the DNC, Democratic National Committee-
Brian Kilmeade: (06:07)
Who has the server?
Donald Trump: (06:09)
The FBI went in and they told them, “Get out of here. We’re not giving it to you.” They gave the server to CrowdStrike or whatever it’s called, which is a company owned by a very wealthy Ukrainian. And I still want to see that server. The FBI has never gotten that server. That’s a big part of this whole thing. Why did they give it to a Ukrainian company? Why-
Steve Doocy: (06:31)
Are you sure they did that? Are you sure they gave it to Ukraine?
Donald Trump: (06:35)
Well, that’s what the word is. That’s what I asked, actually, in my phone call if you know. I mean, I asked it very point blank because we’re looking for corruption. There’s tremendous corruption we’re looking for. Why should we be giving hundreds of millions of dollars to countries when there’s this kind of corruption? When you look at my call, I said corruption … I think he said it to me. He’s looking. He got elected on the basis of corruption. And I also, by the way, going back to that, why isn’t Germany putting up money? Why isn’t France putting up money? All the European nations, why aren’t they putting up? You have the European Union, and they’re benefited a lot more by the Ukraine than we are.
Trump's claims were completely bogus.
Pompeo, of course, sided with Trump.
Pompeo was asked Tuesday whether the U.S. and Ukraine should investigate whether Ukraine, and not Russia, hacked the Democratic Party.
"Any time there is information that indicates that any country has messed with American elections, we not only have a right, but a duty to make sure we chase that down," he said.
Seeming to downplay Russia's interference -- despite efforts by the intelligence community and special counsel Robert Mueller to document and publicize its extensiveness -- the former CIA director added, "There were many countries that were actively engaged in trying to undermine American democracy, our rule of law, the fundamental understandings we have here in the United States."
