Posted on 10/12/2024 3:32:40 PM PDT by george76
Tapper served up an opportunity for Johnson to characterize Trump as a Russian stooge. He did the exact opposite.
CNN talking head Jake Tapper gave former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson an opportunity this week to help the American media establishment advance its latest Trump-Russia smear.
Johnson, whose time as prime minister and foreign secretary overlapped Trump's first four years in the White House, not only proved unwilling to cosign the narrative but highlighted President Donald Trump's historic efforts to keep Russia in check — something the Biden-Harris administration has alternatively had difficulty with.
Johnson went on CNN to promote his new memoir, "Unleashed." While nominally interested in discussing the former prime minister's book, Tapper appeared far more intent on exploring some of the more sensational allegations in Bob Woodward's forthcoming book, particularly the disputed claim — from yet another unnamed source — that Trump has spoken to Putin as many as seven times since leaving the White House.
...
'None of ... these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true.'
...
Democratic operatives and the liberal media are desperate to make something of this allegation. Former Obama U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, for instance, gladly leaped to the conclusion Tuesday that Trump had violated the Logan Act, thereby committing a crime.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also given the rumor oxygen, claiming, "If it is true, it is indeed concerning."
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told The Hill, "None of ... these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true," adding that Woodward "suffers from a debilitating case of Trump derangement syndrome."
Woodward might have a chip on his shoulder on account of the president's $50 million lawsuit for releasing audio recordings of their interviews without consent.
"CNN is also reporting that in Woodward's book, according to a Trump aide, there have been multiple phone calls between former President Trump and Vladimir Putin. Maybe as many as seven since Trump left the White House in 2021," said Tapper. "What's your reaction to that?"
"I don't know if that's true, and I'm certainly not privy to the contents of those sorts of conversations," said Johnson.
"What I can tell our viewers is that when I had dealings with President Trump over Russia, like when the Russians poisoned people in the U.K., it was actually the Trump administration that really ... exceeded expectations. They expelled 60 Russian spies. It was the Trump administration that actually gave Ukrainians lethal weaponry — the Javelin missiles to use against Putin's troops."
After Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter were poisoned in 2018, Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats whom his administration identified as intelligence agents. He also had the Russian consulate in Seattle closed.
...
'Had he been president in 2022, there would have been no Russian invasion of Ukraine.'
As for the Javelins, Trump approved a plan to send the anti-tank missile systems to Ukraine in December 2017 — a step that former President Barack Obama had avoided, even when Russia annexed Crimea under his watch.
There was a pregnant silence after Johnson concluded his defense of Trump's record on Russia. Tapper then awkwardly changed the topic to the prime minister's book.
This is not the first time in recent days that the former prime minister has defended Trump.
In a recent interview with Britain's Times Radio, Johnson suggested Putin would not have invaded Ukraine on Trump's watch.
"I happen to believe that when Donald Trump says that had he been president in 2022, there would have been no Russian invasion of Ukraine, my view is that that is a credible assertion. I really do think that's credible," said Johnson.
WOW!!
Will wonders never cease. That’s the way to sell books 📚.
Boris combs his hair with a BALLOON!!
Tapper is a first class constipated buffoon.
Boris knows who will win in November.
mark
bttt
Some people here need to understand that the left BELIEVE their lies.
It's hard to tell if he actually ever combs it, but I'm glad he covered for Trump.
BUT but but Hillary Clinton’s 51 intelligence experts.....
ARE ALL PATHOLOGICAL LIARS
“Maybe as many as seven since Trump left the White House in 2021,” said Tapper. “What’s your reaction to that?””
Hopefully, those phone calls help set circumstances to avoid World War III. Trump will be the next president and Putin and Trump will have to deal.
Boris Johnson does not want to be on Trumps bad side when Trump is re elected.
The guy is crazy, but not that crazy
The same guy that sabotaged the Ukrainian Peace Deal?
More of your Russian lies
It wasn’t a “peace deal” in any sense, just a total surrender to Russia
Sensibly rejected ... Good riddance!
Remember that the guy who wrote the totally fake “dossier” that blew up US politics was a “former” British spy. I find it hard to believe that someone like that could be engaged in such an act without it being known and probably sanctioned by the British government. So statements from the Brits on this topic should be viewed through the lens of them trying to make the awkward issue go away in my opinion.
Yes
What did Boris Johnson know and when did he know it?
LOL
Snake Crapper is the lowest form of media scum. A political activist to the core without an ounce of integrity or conscience. It’s great to see him cut off at the knees.
Great. His public life is over. His credibility is gone. And HE’s defending Trump, now that there’s no upside for him and he’s got a book to sell. Oh, well. At least he’s not kicking Trump when he’s up. Bruce Lee would have trouble kicking that high.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.