situation. a top trump aide is dismissing the sanctions and limiting the president-elect's options. here is kellyanne conway on cnn. >> these retaliations put forward by president obama and his administration, some seem largely symbolic. even those sympathetic are saying part of the reason he did this today was to quote box in donald trump. that would be unfortunate if that were the motivating factor here. we can't help but think that is true. >> cnn's athena jones is with president obama in hawaii. she has more on the sanctions. >> reporter: good morning, joe and alison. the president is calling the steps necessary and appropriate. said they are coming after repeated private and public warnings to the russian government. he said all americans should be alarmed by russia's actions. he repeated the assertion that