President-elect Donald Trump thinks the CIA’s conclusion that Russia intervened to help him win the election is just “another excuse.”
Trump sat down with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” for an interview that was taped on Saturday afternoon. He didn’t hold back when Wallace asked about the recent CIA claim that Russia interfered with the presidential election.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” Trump said. “I don’t believe it. I don’t know why and I think it’s just, you know, they talked about all sorts of things. Every week it’s another excuse. We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College… No I don’t believe that at all.”
Wallace asked, “Do you think that the CIA is trying to overturn the results… of the election?”
“No, I don’t think they’re saying anything,” Trump replied. “Well, if you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there’s great confusion. Nobody really knows, and hacking is very interesting. Once they hack if you don’t catch them in the act you’re not going to catch them. They have no idea if it’s Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed someplace. I mean, they have no idea.”
Wallace, who was praised for his performance as a moderator in the final presidential debate, didn’t let up.
“So, why would the CIA put out the story that the Russians wanted you to win?” Wallace asked.
“Well I’m not sure they put it out,” Trump replied. “I think the Democrats are putting it out because they suffered one of the greatest defeats in the history of politics in this country. And frankly, I think they’re putting it out. And it’s ridiculous. We ought to get back to making America great again, which is what we’re going to do. And we’ve already started the process.”
Trump also discussed why the president-elect has been skipping intelligence briefings.
“I get it when I need it,” Trump said. “I’m, like, a smart person. I don’t have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years.”
He continued: “Mike Pence is being briefed, who is, by the way, one of my very good decisions. He is terrific. And they’re being briefed. And I’m being briefed also. But if they’re going to come in and tell me the exact same thing that they tell me, you know, it doesn’t change, necessarily. Now, there will be times where it might change. I mean, there will be some very fluid situations. I’ll be there not every day, but more than that. But I don’t need to be told, Chris, the same thing every day, every morning, same words. ‘Sir, nothing has changed. Let’s go over it again.’ I don’t need that.”
Trump is scheduled to occupy the White House starting Jan. 20.
Check out the video above.