BACKTRACK: Trump now says he doesn't believe Putin didn't meddle
The US President sparred controversy back at home as he made his way across the Asia-pacific countries of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. After meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump told the entire world that he 'really believes' Putin when he tells him that Russia did not meddle in the 2016 election between Trump and candidate Hillary Clinton.
US Intel agencies, including the FBI and the CIA, have undoubtedly confirmed to the American people that Russia did try and infiltrate the US and influence the election results by methods unrelated to collusion (by this point). So, what's the controversy?
GOP Sen. McCain said, as Trump made his 'America First' speech in Asia, that there was nothing "America first about [the Trump statement on Putin's beliefs]" going against the US President of which appeared to have sided with Putin over American investigators and major intelligence companies.
While in Vietnam as Trump addressed the press, a reporter asked the President to once again clarify the statement he had made the day prior. Trump said he didn't understand what was so confusing about the statement, and stated 'once and for all' that he did not mean he agreed with Putin - but simply understood Putin may have not been aware of it and the Russian President himself doesn't believe they influenced the election.
However questions still remain. The way the President worded the statements after meeting with the Russian president almost directly sounded as if he was agreeing with Vladimir. "I really believe Putin means it when he says Russia did not influence the 2016 presidential election", the President had said.
There's one theory for this confusion: Trump had also tweeted, on the same day when he flip-flopped back on his Russia statement, a comment about the North Korean leader's insults when they called Trump 'old', saying he would 'never call Kim short and fat', also saying he does think they can some day become friends.
Another controversy rose after the US leader stated he wished to become friends with North Korea of which he had once again later addressed.