Transcripts For CNNW The Lead With Jake Tapper 20180718

Court documents reading like a bond script about the agent trying to use the gop to help mother russia. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. The assertions about russian cyberattacks are not limited it turns out to what happened in 2016. We also learned today that the president s doubting of his intelligence agencies applies the cyberattacks right now. The president this afternoon when asked if russia is targeting the United States said, no. Take a listen. Is russia still tar getting the u. S. , mr. President . Make your way out. No . You dont believe thats the case . To recap, the reporter said is russia still targeting the United States, mr. President . The president says, thank you very much, no . She says, no . You dont believe that to be the case . He says, no. That seems to be a stunning turn around. The warning lights are blinking red. Again. The day the Digital Infrastructure that serves this country is literally under attack. In regards to state actions, russia has been the most aggressive foreign actor. No question. And they continue their efforts to undermine our democracy. This afternoon, press secretary Sarah Sanders holding a press briefing denied that the president answering no to her specific question. The president was said thank you very much and no to answering questions. Its would versus wouldnt again from the white house and the president not exactly overflowing with a reservoir of credibility. But heres the thing. President trump has already said he doesnt agree with dan coats assessment that the u. S. Is under attack and vulnerable to it. Days ago the president asked about what coats warned about, these attacks mostly russian, on the United States. Speaking of that hacking, your dni dan coats said that americas Digital Infrastructure at a critical point right now. Similar to what it was like in some ways before 9 11. And that were susceptible to a largescale attack. Do you agree with that . I dont know. Id have to look. I dont know if i agree with that. Even inclined to give the president the benefit of the doubt on this, no, to a reporter asking if he believed russia attacking the United States, people in the room, by the way, say that the president was looking right at the reporter in question after she asked. He said, no. And she asked it again, he said no, again. This comes as a part of a whole. The president expressing doubts about the Intelligence Communitys assertions. The president already told cbs news he didnt know if he agreed with intelligence chief coats and in helsinki, of course, doubting him again suggesting maybe he believes putin. The reporters are not buying the new explanation . Reporter they have not. When you ask the president a direct question, he often locks eyes with you for an answer. Thats what he did with cecilia vega of cbs and then Sarah Sanders said he was trying the move on, period, went on to talk about how strong against Vladimir Putin. But, jake, in the end what this all amounts to is a second straight day of cleanup here at the white house. Its happened again. President trump contradicting his own Intelligence Leaders today, saying russia is no longer targeting the u. S. At the end of the cabinet meeting, the president was asked this. Is russia still targeting the u. S. , mr. President . Thank you very much, no. Make your way out. Reporter as white house aides tried to clear roertds from the room press, lets go. Make your way out. No, you dont believe that to be the case . Lets go. Were finished here. Reporter the question did not answer again. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders repeatedly saying the answer was misconstrued. The president was said thank you very much and saying no to answering questions. The first thing that the president said after the question was asked was thank you very much and said, no, im not answering anymore questions. Im interpreting what the president said. I was in the room, as well. I didnt take it the way you did. Reporter adding the president does believe russia is an ongoing threat. We certainly believe that we are taking steps to make sure they cant do it again. Reporter the confusion complicating an ongoing effort to clean up the debacle of the summit with Vladimir Putin. I think he has called them out for interfering our election. Hes been tough on russia repeatedly. Reporter the president also made this claim today about putin. Theres been no president ever as tough as i have been on russia. All you have to do is look at the numbers, look at what we have done. Reporter but that hardly erased what he said standing alongside putin in helsinki. I have great confidence in my intelligence people. But i will tell you that president putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. Reporter the president s initial comments today about russia not being an ongoing threat directly aodds with the hand picked intelligence chief who said theres no question russia remains an urgent threat to american elections. The warning lights are blinking red again. Today the Digital Infrastructure that serves this country is literally under attack. Reporter the white house still consumed with fallout of the summit after the president said monday he took putin at his word. He just said its not russia. I will say this. I dont see any reason why it would be. Reporter at the First White House Briefing Since july 2, sanders struggled to explain the firestorm. To act like hes not tough on russia, not called them out is simply not true. Reporter so the president , jake, had one more chance to explain this arriving back to the white house after flying out to joint base andrews earlier this afternoon. Reporter asked him again within the last hour if he could believed russia was a threat and did not answer. Jake, the interesting thing about all of this, the first meeting happened about noon or so here in washington. The white house had more than two hours to say no, no. Thats not what he meant and broadcast alerted by the major newspapers and did make that claim. Sarah sanders tried explaining it once they got their story in a row there. So again, more cleanup, more confusion here on russia. Jake . All right. Jeff zeleny, thank you. Shawn turner, how do you take it . You have to view what the president said earlier today to cecilia vega of cbs news of the attitude towards the Intelligence Community. Absolutely you do. Just like the comments of yesterday claiming that he meant to say wouldnt when he said would, we have to look at this and realize it falls flat. The president answering the question asked and for people around the president to then come out and suggest just like they did yesterday that somehow there was a misunderstanding here, it kind of is suggested that they think theyre all stupid. Look. This is an issue of preparation. When the president goes out and he makes a statement, if the plan is for the president to simply make his namt astatement then usher the press out, he has to stick to the plan and to keep kaw quiet and time and time again the president gets in trouble because he doesnt stick to the plan. One of your roeeporters, wit usa today was in the room. Daily beast. Sorry. I forgot. He was the white house reporter, the pooler today. The designated reporter going in for other roerpts. Representing mack sens or print . Print. He was there and saying theres no cross talk and no question the president was answering the question. And i think its some point we just have to believe what the president says the first time. Because he said similar versions of this as you said other times, including and yesterday when he was monday talking next to Vladimir Putin he said all that before, too, just not standing on foreign soil next to the russian president. Its when the white house tries to clean it up it gets confusing and gaslight us all. He doesnt believe russians despite the evidence, all the intel experts doesnt believe that russians interfered in the election and he doesnt think that it could happen again. Reporters tried again with Sarah Sanders. They asked the question about whether or not russia is still targeting the u. S. Take a listen. Theres currently not an election today. Not specifically. But we certainly believe that we are taking steps to make sure they cant do it again unlike previous administrations. Why cant you give a direct answer . Why is this so hard . Right . Why is it always so hard with this issue coming up . I think gaslighting is a perfect word to use. Explain that. Drive people crazy and then call them crazy. You are constantly like you are crazy and hysterical. By lying to them. Yeah. Up is down. And so, i think that you they act like why is everybody acting so strange about this. Its clear why. Because theyre acting strange. And so theyre always not quite giving an answer thats that lines up with what they say they believe. I agree with the Intelligence Community except then proceeds to Say Something that the Intelligence Community didnt say. Or maybe somebody else. Thats what she is doing here, sort of answering it but then saying the opposite of what she claims the point she claims to be making. A point you have made on the show, a point i have made, troops deployed to the balkans, sanctions, dragged kicking and screaming and imposed on russia. Lethal aid to ukrainians. With all that, why is there also this other weirdness about this reluctance to say what everyone, democrats, republicans, house, senate, his own intelligence people, obamas intelligence people, they all assort russia was interfering in the election and continues to do so . I think the president continues to believe if he admits that the russians interfered in the election or may try again its linked to his legitimacy as president and what a lot of republicans want the president to know you are the legitimate president. Even if it turns out that they did interfere in the election, i believe they did, which we all believe they did, that in no way delegitimizes you. Thats not going to change. It is all wrapped up in that and something wrapped up in the ongoing negotiations with whatever they are with Vladimir Putin. He says he wants to make deals, have better relations, engage. I think people support that. And i think he might be worried that if he is too hard on him in public that thats going to interrupt this deal making that he is doing but i would just say to the white house, that this smart play here is to assume theyre going to do it again and hope they dont and hope that the measures you have put in place stop them from doing it. Until they prove themselves to be better actors than they have been we cant take their word for it. We dont have to assume theyre going to do it again. Theyre doing it right now. We watch the russians right now as we speak attempting to probe the networks. We are watching them plant disinformation in social media. So, you know, this question of whether or not this is happening, looking forward, we know its happening right now and the white house, the president should step forward and acknowledge it. Also, i think that when they talk about how hard they are on russia, its unrelated to this. What are they doing in terms of preventing another attack . They eliminated the top Cyber Security position at the white house. Thats not helpful. Its counter productive. The president never expressed interest in getting to the bottom of it and why . Is it possible that he is fine with them doing it again and might help him . Look at this. In february, the chief of the nsa, jeff Admiral Mike Rogers testified he needed the president or secretary of defense to give his authority and said its not granted. Take a listen. If granted the authority. I dont have the daytoday authority to do that. If granted the authority. You would need to be directed by the president through the secretary of defense . Yes, sir. As in fact i mentioned that in my statement. Have you been directed to do so given the strategic threat that faces the United States and the significant consequences you recognize already . No, i have not. At the time, Sarah Sanders said nobody was denying the authority. Obviously, admiral rogers has a different take. This is the fear. The president not taking it seriously enough means actually our defenses are not as strong as they need to be. Right. I think sanders said theres not an election going on right now. There is. Yesterday there was one. Primary election. The white house claims it is doing things to protect the election security. That said, it has to come from the president s mouth. I mean, we daily beast had a story with a balkan politician saying that they dont listen to the president anymore. They listen to congress and the pentagon when they say that everythings okay and that the u. S. Still has their back. It matters what the president says, it mats when he says the buck stops here. This is not going to happen again and matters to say to Vladimir Putin you cant do this again. It does. He can talk about how tough he is but when push came to shove standing next to the russian president he didnt say it. He didnt say it. Final thought . The president stated that the government taking steps to prevent election interference this year to give somebody the authority inside the administration, inside the white house to lay out specifically what those steps are, to give us some assurance we have this under control. To me, thiss the next logical communications play here to tell the american people, heres what the president was referring to, to help. The director of National Intelligence coats seems concerned, of course. Only other american able to say what was said in that room between President Trump and president Vladimir Putin. Will the interpreter be forced to share what she knows by congress . And then a russian accused of trading sex for insider access to the american political system and thats just the beginning of that tale. Stay with us. Ask a business advisor how to get on demand tech support for as little as 15 a month. 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Politics, only one other american knows what was said in the private meeting between President Trump and russian president Vladimir Putin. Its this woman, marina gross next to President Trump. A u. S. State department interpreter. We have a report theres growing pressure to bring her to capitol hill and Tell Congress what she heard. Reporter when President Trump faced off with Vladimir Putin in private, right at his side is someone few knew. Marina gross. An interpreter and his only aide in the room for the more than twohour one on one meeting. With trump siding with russian president putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. Reporter the calls are growing to find out what happened behind those closed doors. This is a Serious National Security issue on the rollup to another series of midterms and just asking for that we understand what our president agreed to and if he wont tell us then we should figure it out. Reporter that other way may be testifying in front of congress, with talk now of subpoenaing gross. That is moment where we should have access to what went on in the private meeting. Reporter some republicans joining the chorus. Im not saying it ought to be done in a public hearing. We ought to get access to the notes that the translators keep. Reporter zbroegross is a hi experienced interpreter at the state department. This photo taken in 2008 appearing last year in moscow with then secretary of state rex tillerson. For interpreters, discretion is paramount, expected to not reveal what they see or hear. So talk of a subpoena is not just uncomfortable but unchartered territory. When in doubt, we keep it confidential. Unless a judge orders me to talk about it. I probably wouldnt. And this is a legal issue, not so much an interpreting issue. Right . Getting subpoenaed, by congress, i dont think there would be any code of ethics to supercede that obligation. No one we spoke with today remembers a situation in the past of a government interpreter asked to testify before congress and then the white house to use its executive privilege to block it. Interpreters are supposed to be extensions of the people theyre translating for and many argue its the president and his top officials who likely got debriefed or debriefed marina gross and may have seen the notes and answering the questions, not the interpreter. Jake . Thanks so much. Lets talk about this again. Now, i wonder what you think because you come from the perspective of the Obama Administration for director of National Intelligence and skeptical of President Trump. Do you worry that if she is forced, this woman is forced to testify, that that is actually an overreach by the legislative branch into the executive branch . I do. I think it sets a bad precedent. Look. I think because of the nature of the relationship between donald trump and Vladimir Putin, in the Intelligence Community theres interest of what happened in the room, particularly what Vladimir Putin would have said. Theres also a lot of interest and the planning leading up to that meeting and what the plan was going into that meeting. However, it is the case that there are a lot of people around the president who serve a function that allow the president to do his job. And i think that if we set the precedent of identifying the interpreter and bringing her in to testify you open up a can of worms and others might be in the same situation. The white house we should point out said that the request for interpreter before congress has to go through the state department and heres the response of the state department. Is there any precedent for this . We have not been able to find that just yet. I can tell you theres no formal request to have the interpreter appear before any congressional committees at this point. Overall, as a general matter, you know, we seek to work with congress. White house also said theres no recording of the meeting and really up to President Trump and marina gross . Yeah. I agree with everything you said and problematic because this isnt a policy person. This is something whens trying to interpret as they go along and if they represent things they may represent them not correctly trying to do the best and then in the future you could just see whats to stop them from with any president saying we want to subpoena your interpreter and dont know what happened there. I think it sets a bad precedent. Im curious about one of my issues about this is that the president is not just about donald trump or whoever happens to be president. Theyre representing the United States and the United States is not his toy. Right . So he is there representing the United States. So the question is, should they be meeting alone . And how common is that . To actually meet alone with an adversary. I think its very uncommon. Uncommon. You disagree with the notion to be subpoenaed or testify before congress. But dont you think that there is a public right to know about what was said in that meeting that has not yet been satisfied in any way . I think the president of the United States has to have the latitude to to talk to and negotiate with other World Leaders as he sees fit. This is what it means to have a president in charge of a separate and coequal branch of government and bad ideas, terrible ideas, theres crazy ideas and then theres this one. It comes from the farthest left fever swamps of washington, d. C. We cannot go down this road. It would have a serious chilling impact on all of these functional people in the white house to help the president do the job. Whats next . Find the people that take the garbage out to the dumpster saying, did you look through the garbage last night . This is a lunatic idea. I think the issue is theres no recording you said that we know of. Right. Pretty much every russia expert i heard from said theres a recording. When the United States doesnt have it. Somewhere. Right. And so, i think the white house created this problem in a way. Because usually there is someone else in the room, a staffer, someone with the president. That could, not only for historys sake and report back and getting information about what happened in that meeting from the russians. Right. That is not ideal. Who knows if theyre telling the truth . Right. Would versus would isnt the excuse. How the white house crafted the Cleanup Campaign yesterday. Stay with us. Wednesdays. At outback, theyre for steak and beer. Walkabout wednesdays are back get a sirloin or chicken on the barbie, fries, and a draft beer or cocacola all for just 9. 99. Hurry in wednesdays are for outback. Outback steakhouse. Aussie rules. Outback steakhouse. Does your Business Internet provider promise a lot . Lets see who delivers more. Comcast business gives you gigspeed in more places. The others dont. We offer up to 6 hours of 4g Wireless Network backup. Everyone else, no way. We let calls from any of your devices come from your business number. Them, not so much. We let you keep an eye on your business from anywhere. The others . Nope get internet on our gigspeed network and add voice and tv for 34. 90 more per month. Call or go on line today. In our politics lead, yes versus no. Todays debate comes after would versus wouldnt yesterday. Were now learning an entire team at the white house helped craft the almost aboutface that the statement President Trump read yesterday, a clarify case undermined almost immediately by Everything Else the president said then and since and before he believes about the Intelligence Community so why the attempted aboutface . Why do it . I was saying wouldnt. Not would. A double negative. Reporter a double negative. Thats the hard to believe explanation that the white house is sticking with as President Trump attempts to explain away this widely criticized remark in helsinki. He just said its not russia. I will say this. I dont see any reason why it would be. Reporter by saying this. I said the word would instead of wouldnt. Reporter an explanation that doesnt make much sense. I accept our Intelligence Communitys conclusion. Reporter given that President Trumps continued expressing doubts about the Intelligence Communitys assessment that russia interfer interfered in the u. S. Election was clear as soon as he deviated. Could be also people, also. Theres a lot of people out there. Reporter so why Say Something he clearly doesnt believe . Pressure. On capitol hill, outside advisers, within the white house, people said you have to address this. Reporter officials tell cnn the criticism carefully fielded by Vice President mike pence who was tasked with tamping down the negative feedback. Sources say there was also a mounting concern that President Trump looked unpatriotic. Theres probably a kadri of guys around the president saying, look, to be honest with you, walk this thing down, you love the rank and file people in the intelligence agencies. Reporter on tuesday, Vice President pence, secretary of state mike pompeo and National Security adviser john bolton met with President Trump at the white house along with adviser Steven Miller and chief of staff john kelly. Top priority . Removing the knife many in the Intelligence Community felt had been thrust into their backs in helsinki when the president equated what they asserted with what the former head of the kgb claimed. My people came to me, dan coats came to me and some others, they said they think its russia. I have president putin. He just said its not russia. Reporter sources tell cnn the officials feared the u. S. Intelligence chief dan coats and other top intelligence officials would resign after coats issued a firm defense of the Intelligence Community and its assertions about rodriguez on monday. Aides say it was bill shine, the white houses new deputy of staff for communications, a former fox news executive pivot nal convincing President Trump a change was needed and fast. According to niktnew york time the president s prepared statement rewritten several times. This was more a statement, frankly, our allies overseas. This is about sending a message of a broader u. S. Government thats going to take action if something untoward happens Going Forward involving russia. Reporter but even then the president could not help but push back on the nations top intelligence chiefs who say putin interfered with the 2016 election. Undermining the whole walk back. Although many out there seem determined to ignore his ad libbed candor. Could be other people, also a. Lot of people out there. Lets just clarify. Reading the prepared remarks from the president wasnt an easy move for him. He was dragged there, kicking and screaming. Daily beast saying he stewed and dug in the heels for ours and john kelly irate and told trump to make things worse with Robert Mueller and pressure to get the president to walk back the remarks. According to three sources familiar with the situation. Kelly called around to republicans on capitol hill and gave them the goahead to speak out about trump and did backtrack and undermine it at the end of the day anyway and saying it could have been other people instead of russia. And yet, on the hill, republicans kind of breathed a sigh of relief saying he fixed it. He didnt. Right. It gave them something to hang the hat on to move on with their lives. I think a senator said today he apologized. He didnt. Theyre taking it and making it what they need it to be. The fact he did anything at all. Hes off the hook with republicans irate the other day. Scott, the president obviously doesnt believe the intelligence, doesnt believe that russia interfered in the election. Said it a million times, again today about continued interference. And yet the white house determined to try to make it as though they believe what, you know, the establishment believes, what everybody at this table believes, what the Intelligence Community believes. Why not just let him be him and not believe it . Well, because he would be the only person in town that doesnt believe it. Thats how it is and the Administration Needs to get this right. Not just for posteritys sake and moving forwards sake. I would offer a piece of advice to the white house. The power of the written statement here gives you a precision of communication you wont get when you try to read a statement and then ad blib from it. My advice when you know you have to clean something up or you know the first three questions are going to be, just prewrite something and hand it out in advance and say, ive already answered those questions. What else do you have . This is a very smart thing for them to do and frankly keep them out of a lot of situations like that. Have you met donald trump . I mean, seriously eye . He clearly accepted a piece of paper with writing on it. Why not just issue it . Issue the paper. What about the facts . Look. That excuse falls flat. For any other public, maybe plausible and thought he misspoke and unfortunately President Trump has a deficit of trust and whether thats warranted or not. Surrogates, people tell us, dont worry so much about what the president says but look at what the president does. We watched what he did standing next to Vladimir Putin. So i dont know that theres any paper statement thats going to fix that. I mean, this is a mess that the white house needs to take a step back and ask why is the president doing this . The New York Times reports, quote, now the aides fear the worst is yet to come. Still to come, if the past is any guide, hell digest the fallout of the encounter and look for someone other than himself to blame and then see this tweet which it was its a good one. Remarkable one. So many people at the higher ends of intelligence loved my press Conference Performance in helsinki. We discussed many important subjects and got along well and troubled the haters. So many people at higher ends of intelligence liked it. Yeah. Look. I think that i mean, the idea of handing out the piece of paper just totally misses donald trump, who donald trump is. Handing out a piece of paper he would just do exactly what he just did. I agree with the Intelligence Community or other people. He just it doesnt matter what they do. Hell continue to do this. I think the reason he cant just say what he really believes is i guess there is a line with the republicans to a point you see even people at fox news who typically agree with him on every single thing saying this was the line right here standing there with putin and siding against the Intelligence Community. Does that mean they turn against him . No. But i dont think he expected that to happen and why he i think ended up reversing the position, trying to pretend he misspoke and he didnt expect them to turn against him. I just dont know how much there really is any fear of repercussion of the line crossed. You might get strongly worded statement that is dont mention President Trumps name and no resignations, no serious congressional action. You know . Theres some people throughout with legislation about other subjects having to do with russia and might be using this to push for this. Its all about credibility and you mentioned the deficit of trust. Look at the polls. He has a deficit of trust and something they have to repair moving into a reelection campaign. In order to govern the country, to run a reelection campaign, you have to be credible to people in the party, you have to be credible to voters, people on the hill. And so, it is something the white house has to think about. It will always be a suppression of his job approval and his personal image numbers if they dont improve that they were calling him weak. And he cant stand to be called weak. Right . He is being told at drudge he was basically dominated by putin. I wonder if the midterm elections do not turn out well for the white house if we see the president recalibrate. Jakes right. Theres not been any real repercussions that are realtime instant gratification is the wrong word. Zero repercussions. If republicans lose, hell try to blame someone else and i think that maybe that will cause some soul searching. I think there was a lot of talk about whether or not dan coats should resign. I actually think that dan coats should dig in and stay there. You know, its unusual for people around the president to challenge him, to speak up against him, to stand against him. Dan coats had a lot of courage and stood up and disagreed with the president and if you demonstrate the courage to do that then thats a time for you to stick around and to continue to do that and if the president doesnt like that, then hell fire you and then well all know. One other topic is this afternoon Sarah Sanders white House Press Secretary acknowledged that president putin talked to President Trump in the interest of prosecuting the former Russian Ambassador mcfall. Named several americans to question and they claim involved in the quote unquote crimes in their terms and a former ambassador to russia. Does President Trump support that idea . Is he open to u. S. Officials question the president s going to meet with his team and let you know when we have an announcement on that. Is that the right answer, scott . No. I mean, they should say that Vladimir Putin can pooh in one hand and demand Michael Mcfall and see which one fills up faster. Ridiculous for another government to ask for a u. S. Ambassador, just tell the guy, no, pound sand, whatever to say in diplomatic terms and move on. This is outrageous. The state Department Said thats not going to happen. He tweeted i hope the white house corrects the record and denounces this ridiculous request of putin, not doing so creates a moral equivalence of russian Intelligence Officers and a crazy completely fabricated story invented by putde putin. This is what experts have the biggest problem with coming to President Trump, the moral equivalence. President trump time and time again suggesting that the United States and russia on the same moral plane and consider to sending over mcfaul. He said that, basically. U. S. And russia did some bad things. Like theyre the same thing. Of course, the United States has done things wrong. Nobody doubt that is and not the same as russia. Were a different country. And i dont think that trump thinks that. And ive said this before. This is not i think that this is a serious thing. I dont think it was a mistake. I think that he relates to putden in a way that he does not relate to members of nato, for example. And these are his people. He identifies with authoritarian leaders and i think he considered it. Stick around. President trump suggesting to not want to send his son to defend montenegro if attacked. Hmm. But i guess it was okay for that tiny nation to send troops to afghanistan at the request of the United States . How does that work . Stay with uls. Baby boomers, heres something you should know. Theres a serious virus out there that 1 in 30 boomers has, yet most dont even know it. A virus thats been almost forgotten. Its hepatitis c. Hep c can hide in the body for years without symptoms. Left untreated it can lead to liver damage, even liver cancer. The only way to know if you have hep c is to ask your Healthcare Provider for the simple blood test. If you have hep c, it can be cured. For us, its time to get tested. Its the only way to know for sure. For us, its time to get tested. Join tmobile. And get netflix included for the whole family. So you can get lost in space in your own backyard. 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On the principle of collective defense, some fact that is did not come out of President Trumps interview. Article 5 invoked once. That was after the United States was attacked on 9 11. Montenegro is part of that sending troops to afghanistan since 2010 and agreeing in february to honor the Trump Administration to send more. In other words, whether or not the president thinks that your son should go to montenegro to defend that country from attack, the sons of montenegro going to afghanistan to do that for the United States. Only a few dozen troops, thats true w. A population of 622,000, montenegro has more troops per capita in afghanistan than anyone else including the United States. The small balkan nation joined nato in 2008. Last year, russian operatives were indicted for a coup to kill the Prime Minister and overthrow the government. Moscow, of course, denies any involvement. The u. S. State Department Said that the kremlin tried to interfere in the free and Fair Election just last year. A question i asked the white house today and received no answer, there are 28 nato members other than the United States. Does President Trump believe the u. S. Should honor its commitment to defend any of them if attacked . If not, which ones would he not want to defend . Again, no answer. Cnns Barbara Starr picks up the coverage from the pentagon. Reporter on the heels of a controversial meeting with nato allies, President Trump once again questioning the entire point to one of americas oldest alliances. Membership in nato obligates the members to defend any other member attacked so lets say montenegro attacked, why should my son go there to defend it . I understand. Ive asked the same question. A tiny country with very strong people. Not against it or al bahny. Very strong people. Theyre very aggressive people. May get aggressive and congratulations. You are in world war iii. Reporter montenegro, a tiny country in the balkans, has the american president s attention. Last year, President Trump visibly dismissed the Prime Minister of montenegro shoving him out of the way at a nato photoop and russian president Vladimir Putin furious that its the newest member of nato, the country once part of yugoslavia a member of the warsaw pact. Hes seen multiple countries lean toward the west over the last 14 or 15 years who have asked to join nato include many countries that used to be part of the warsaw pact that used to be part of the soviet union and it irks him that he feels hes being attacked from the alliance and from the United States. I would not be at all surprised that what you heard the president say to Tucker Carlson there last night is derived from what Vladimir Putin told him during the one on one discussions in helsinki. Reporter this year, defense secretary mattis making certain to congratulate the newest member of nato. 29th nation and to see the confidence that they have from a nato that is that open and discussion and honest in discussion. Reporter montenegro, about the side of vermont, a military force of just a few thousand. Its already sent 20 troops to afghanistan to help with security and plans to sends several more. President trump may also want to consider this. Nato invoked the article 5 mutual defense clause after 9 11 for the first time. Sending patrol aircraft to the u. S. And since then, more than 1,000 troops from nato allies have died in afghanistan. Jake . Already. Barbara starr at the pentagon. Trading sex for information and working with a Russian Oligarch sanctioned by the u. S. , some accusations against an alleged russian spy. Stay with us. Im a fighter. Always have been. When i found out i had agerelated macular degeneration, amd, i wanted to fight back. 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Doefs Officials Say of President Trumps strong man style military parade for november. Cnn Officials Say it could cost 12 million, nearly as expensive as military drills of the u. S. And south korea, you know, the ones canceled. Those drills to make sure troops are ready. And world lead today, prosecutors say a web of sex and lies connected accused russian spy maria butina to american political operatives, tangling the web with american marks. Cnns Jessica Schneider with more on the woman one russian official nicknamed daredevil girl. Reporter tonight, prosecutors say that this 29yearold russian redhead who came to washington under the guides of being a graduate student after founding a Gun Rights Group in russia this is all russian organization. We promote gun rights. Reporter isnt who she claimed to be. Court papers paint maria butina as an illegal agent of rsh who was patient and directed by a russian official. Butina even allegedly offered sex for position within a special Interest Organization here in the u. S. Shes not an agent of the russian government. The russian federation. Shes innocent of the charges brought against her. Reporter she posed with a pistol for a spread in gq magazine and buttoned up for political events, seen here with republican president ial candidate scott walker and sitting just feet away from former National Adviser michael flynn. The man who mentored her, kremlin linked banker torshin sanctioned by the u. S. Messaged here on twitter one month after the breakfast saying you have upstaged anna chapman. Because the freedom is important. Reporter butina close to donald trump. At the freedom fest event in las vegas and nounsed to viz fritd russia and then asked then recently declared candidate trump this. If you would be elected as a president what would be the foreign politic especially in the relationships with my country . I believe i would get along very nicely with putin. Okay . Reporter butina allegedly kept in touch with members of the russian fsb, the spy agency that succeeded the kgb and prosecutors say she was well connected to well think business men in the Russian Oligarchy and sources tell cnn she had a relationship with Paul Ericsson from the American Conservative Union trying to make inroads with the romney and trump campaigns and never particularly successful. While the court filing did not name ericsson and referred to him as u. S. Person one, the details match ericssons activities. Butina allegedly lived with him but treated the relationship as simply a necessary aspect of her activities since ericsson previously said he cofounded a company with butina to fund the graduate studies. Cnn affiliate kilo tv asked ericsson if he tried to set up a meeting of trump and putin. I was wondering if you would talk to us about the the New York Times reporting about you trying to set up a meeting between President Trump and putin . Oh yeah. It didnt exactly happen that way. Reporter federal judge has just ruled maria butina will remain in jail with no bond until the trial. Rors argued today she was a flight risk and also in court they disclosed that american she was in a relationship with who we reported as ericsson, they say he was under investigation for fraud in south dakota and that butina offered to help with the case and of course, jake, she is behind bars and pleaded not guilty today. Curiouser and curiouser. Thanks so much. Follow me on facebook and twitter. Tweet the show. Our coverage continues with wolf blitzer in the situation room. Thanks so much for watching. Happening now, cleanup. President trump seems to directly contradict the u. S. Intelligence community when asked whether russia is still actively targeting the United States. The president says, no. As the white house attempts another cleanup saying no doesnt mean no. Honey trap. The 29yearold russian woman charged with spying allegedly offered sex to get a job with the special Interest Organization here in washington. Court documents also say she was in contact with russian intelligence, was moving money out of the country and is considered a serious flight risk. Lost in translation, growing calls up on capitol hill to learn what promises the president may have made to