President-elect Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets Wednesday morning, hours before addressing for the first time how he will handle his company's many business dealings while he is president, taking a shot at "fake news" and even citing "Nazi Germany."
Trump was referring to Tuesday reports that indicated Russia may have potentially compromised at least some of the president-elect's personal information. The explosive report came after multiple U.S. intelligence agencies agreed that Russia attempted to influence the outcome of the U.S. election by releasing the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta.
Russia, for its part, denies reports that it compromised Trump's information, a point that Trump himself acknowledged Wednesday in a tweet.
"Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is 'A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.' Very unfair!" Trump tweeted. The president-elect then took it one step further, flatly denying having business interests with Russia, despite speculation that he might have professional dealings there, given his seemingly affectionate statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1484136820.0
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 (@Donald J. Trump) 1484137891.0
"I win an election easily, a great 'movement' is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state!" Trump added.
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 (@Donald J. Trump) 1484138645.0
The man who will become commander-in chief-in just nine days then accused U.S. intelligence agencies of taking "one last shot" at him by "allowing" damning information to "leak" to the public. That explosive charge came even as there is no evidence that suggests the reported information was, in fact, leaked by someone in the intelligence community. Some lawmakers, for example, have been briefed on the intelligence.
"Are we living in Nazi Germany?" Trump tweeted.
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 (@Donald J. Trump) 1484138932.0