He did. I remember a speech where he spoke of Russian meddling and how he had “told Putin to cut it out.” Also, he expelled some 35 diplomats. This was in the fall, a month or so before the election.
Myself, at the time I thought it was odd, kind of out of the blue. It didn’t ring true.
Now, looking back, I see it as “preparing the ground.” The polls he was seeing were probably different from the ones the public was plastered with.
i thought he expelled the Russians after the election when the Russia Russia Russia narrative was brewing in the media.
It was after the election...
“The Obama administration on Thursday (12/29/16) announced its retaliation for Russian efforts to interfere with the US presidential election, ordering sweeping new sanctions that included the expulsion of 35 Russians.”
Wasn’t it December 29, 2016 when Obama expelled the 35 Russians? And wasn’t the stated reason that the Russians Hacked the DNC server? His actions had nothing to do with the Trolling.