At his first news conference in nearly six months, President-elect Donald Trump said for the first time that he believes Russia was behind hacks into the Democratic Party during the campaign. He lashed out at the media while revealing he is turning his business over to his sons, but not divesting from it. Our Grace Rauh has the story.
President-elect Donald Trump is on the attack, furious that Americans are learning about damaging and unsubstantiated allegations about him. Trump attacked the website BuzzFeed for making the salacious charges public and he blamed intelligence officials for leaking the details.
"I think it's a disgrace that information would be let out," Trump said. "It's all fake news. It's phony stuff. It didn't happen."
Alluding to one shocking allegation in particular, Trump dismissed it out of hand.
"I'm also very much of a germaphobe, by the way," he said. "Believe me."
In a circus-like news conference at Trump Tower, the President-elect admitted that Russia was responsible for hacking into Democratic Party during the campaign.
"As far as hacking, I think it was Russia," the president-elect said. "But we also get hacked by other countries, and other people."
He says he is not divesting or selling his business empire before entering the White House. Instead, he is turning it over to his two sons. It's a move that falls far short of what ethics watchdogs say is necessary.
"They are going to be running in a very professional manner," Trump said. "They are not going to be discussing it with me."
And Trump let loose on a reporter from CNN.
When Jim Acosta called out to Trump with a question, he got shot down.
"Don't be rude," Trump said. "No, I'm not going to give you a question. I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news. Go ahead," Trump said, moving on to the next reporter.
Trump promised to move aggressively to repeal and replace Obamacare, but offered no details about what would take its place. And said he would probably announce his Supreme Court nominee within two weeks of inauguration.
Trump also unleashed a tweetstorm Tuesday before his press conference:
Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me.Are we living in Nazi Germany?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
I win an election easily, a great "movement" is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
'BuzzFeed Runs Unverifiable Trump-Russia Claims' #FakeNews https://t.co/d6daCFZHNh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017