WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is contradicting top administration officials who say Russia is behind the cyber espionage operation that targeted U.S. government agencies.
In a tweet about the massive breech, Trump not only downplayed the intrusions, he pointed toward China rather than Russia as a likely perpetrator. The president offered no evidence implicating China. The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said that Russia is “pretty clearly” behind the operation.
A U.S. official tells The Associated Press that the White House was preparing to accuse Russia in the hacking but then stood down at the last minute.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has refused to blame Russia for well-documented hostilities.
