CNN
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A high US official indicated that the Biden administration was unaware of reported conversations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former President Donald Trump since Trump left workplace – however instructed that such calls would “elevate crimson flags.”
Veteran journalist Bob Woodward reported in a brand new guide that there have been “possibly as many as seven” conversations between the 2 leaders since 2021, citing a Trump aide.
“I have no idea if that’s true or not,” Biden nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters aboard Air Pressure One Thursday when requested concerning the calls.
“Clearly,” Sullivan added, “That might elevate crimson flags if it have been true.”
Requested by CNN whether or not the administration was making an attempt to determine extra particulars about these calls, the White Home declined to supply particular data. However the feedback from Sullivan have been notable with fewer than three weeks till the presidential election, given how not often he wades into political discourse.
Trump has denied having a number of calls with Putin, calling it “completely fallacious” in an interview on Newsmax final week. Days later on the Chicago Financial Membership, he declined to touch upon whether or not the Putin calls had taken place, however stated it might have been a “sensible factor” if he had.
The Harris marketing campaign has seized on the reporting because it seeks to solid Trump as a buddy to authoritarian figures.
“We’ve got examples of Donald Trump simply continuously admiring dictators and autocrats, saying he needs to be a dictator on day one,” Vice President Kamala Harris informed reporters final week.
She continued, “Let me let you know one thing: That’s an indication of weak spot of character, that you’d search favor and flattery from dictators, and put their wants over the wants of the American individuals.”
Her operating mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, has additionally attacked Trump on the matter on the marketing campaign path, telling supporters, “I can assure you Kamala Harris and I wouldn’t have dictators on pace dial.”
