Trump Slams Obama's Handling of Russia Intel: He Did 'Nothing'

 

President Donald Trump is faulting his predecessor's handling of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

Trump told Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth in an interview set to air Sunday he "just heard today for the first time" former President Barack Obama "knew about Russia a long time before the election, and he did nothing about it."

He says Obama "should have done something about it.

"The CIA gave him information on Russia a long time before they even -- before the election. And I hardly see it. It's an amazing thing," Trump added.

"In other words, the question is, if he had the information, why didn't he do something about it? He should have done something about it. But you don't read that. It's quite sad," Trump said, according to The Hill.

Trump echoed his comments in a tweet Friday night, too:

Trump appeared to be referring to The Washington Post story about the Obama administration's attempts to address Russia's influence attempts.

The Obama administration had definitive proof last August that Russia was meddling in the presidential election – but became so mired in secret debates over a response it only ended up expelling 35 diplomats and closing two compounds in the U.S.

"It is the hardest thing about my entire time in government to defend," the Post quoted one Obama administration official as saying. "I feel like we sort of choked."

The story comes just one day after Trump questioned on Twitter why the Obama administration failed to "stop" Russia during the election.

Trump has acknowledged Russia likely tried to interfere in the election, but has denounced investigations into possible Russian collusion with his campaign as a "witch hunt."