The Washington Post on Friday raised “darker suspicions” about the President-elect Donald Trump’s lack of concern for Russian interference in the U.S. election.
The White House on Thursday expelled 35 Russian officials and announced an array of new sanctions for what the U.S. intelligence agencies are calling a deliberate hacking campaign, orchestrated by Moscow, for the purposes of interfering in the presidential election.
The Post’s editorial board
questioned Trump’s praise of Putin after the Russian leader decided not to take countermeasures against the U.S.
{mosads}”The president-elect’s dismissive response only deepens unanswered questions about his ties to Russia in the past and his plans for cooperation with Vladimir Putin,” the newspaper wrote.
“For his part, Mr. Putin seems to be eagerly anticipating the Trump presidency. On Friday, he promised to withhold retaliatory sanctions, clearly hoping the new Trump administration will nullify Mr. Obama’s acts,” the Post added.
The editorial questioned Trump’s proposed policy of friendly relations with Russia, observing that Trump “seems blissfully untroubled” by Kremlin’s aggressive geopolitical stratagems.
“Mr. Trump has been frank about his desire to improve relations with Russia, but he seems blissfully untroubled by the reasons for the deterioration in relations, including Russia’s instigation of an armed uprising in Ukraine, its seizure of Crimea, its efforts to divide Europe and the crushing of democracy and human rights at home,” the Post wrote.
“Why is Mr. Trump so dismissive of Russia’s dangerous behavior? Some say it is his lack of experience in foreign policy, or an oft-stated admiration for strongmen, or naivete about Russian intentions. But darker suspicions persist.”
The editorial concluded by connecting the president-elect’s “odd behavior” toward Russia with his lack of transparency when it comes to his business empire.
“Are there loans or deals with Russian businesses or the state that were concealed during the campaign? Are there hidden communications with Mr. Putin or his representatives?” The newspaper speculated.
“We would be thrilled to see all the doubts dispelled, but Mr. Trump’s odd behavior in the face of a clear threat from Russia, matched by Mr. Putin’s evident enthusiasm for the president-elect, cannot be easily explained.”
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