Here's what's making headlines in the political on Monday, July 23, 2018:
Trump resumes attack on Russia investigation
-- A week after his meeting and joint press conference with Russian President Putin sparked criticism across the country and around the world, President Trump was back on Twitter calling out the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Day after he announced that he accepted U.S. intelligence findings that Russians interfered in the election, Trump referred to Russia’s meddling in the election as “a big hoax” in a Sunday tweet and then resumed his assault on the special counsel’s probe.
“So we now find out that it was indeed the unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier, that was paid for by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC, that was knowingly & falsely submitted to FISA and which was responsible for starting the totally conflicted and discredited Mueller Witch Hunt!”
So we now find out that it was indeed the unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier, that was paid for by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC, that was knowingly & falsely submitted to FISA and which was responsible for starting the totally conflicted and discredited Mueller Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
Trump then quoted a statement made by Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton -- a conservative -- before calling for the Mueller investigation to end immediately:
“'It was classified to cover up misconduct by the FBI and the Justice Department in misleading the Court by using this Dossier in a dishonest way to gain a warrant to target the Trump Team. This is a Clinton Campaign document. It was a fraud and a hoax designed to target Trump and the DOJ, FBI and Obama Gang need to be held to account. Source #1 was the major source. Avoided talking about it being the Clinton campaign behind it. Misled the Court to provide a pretext to SPY on the Trump Team. Not about Carter Page was all about getting Trump. Carter Page wasn’t a spy, wasn’t an agent of the Russians - he would have cooperated with the FBI. It was a fraud and a hoax designed to target Trump.' Tom Fitton @JudicialWatch A disgrace to America. They should drop the discredited Mueller Witch Hunt now!"
Later, Trump slammed the “Fake News” media for the doubts that still linger following his meeting in Helsinki with Putin.
The president said: “When you hear the Fake News talking negatively about my meeting with President Putin, and all that I gave up, remember, I gave up NOTHING, we merely talked about future benefits for both countries. Also, we got along very well, which is a good thing, except for the Corrupt Media!”
When you hear the Fake News talking negatively about my meeting with President Putin, and all that I gave up, remember, I gave up NOTHING, we merely talked about future benefits for both countries. Also, we got along very well, which is a good thing, except for the Corrupt Media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
Trump takes aim at Washington Post, Amazon
-- President Trump blasted the Washington Post newspaper and Amazon, both owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, in tweets Monday morning.
Trump referred to the newspaper as "The Amazon Washington Post,” adding the publication "has gone crazy against me ever since they lost the Internet Tax Case in the U.S. Supreme Court two months ago. Next up is the U.S. Post Office which they use, at a fraction of real cost, as their 'delivery boy' for a BIG percentage of their packages ..."
Trump then added, “...In my opinion the Washington Post is nothing more than an expensive (the paper loses a fortune) lobbyist for Amazon. Is it used as protection against antitrust claims which many feel should be brought?"
Bezos is the CEO of Amazon and owns more than a dozen other companies, including aerospace company Blue Origin.
Trump's attacks on Amazon and The Washington Post have happened for a while. He also accused Amazon of scamming the USPS several months ago.
In April, he tweeted "While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars."
He also tweeted, "This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now."
