'It was fabricated, made up': Trump slams Russia 'hoax' after Durham indictment discredited the Steele dossier - ignoring Rupert Murdoch's advice to stop 'focusing on the past'
Donald Trump appears to be ignoring Rupert Murdoch's advice to stop dwelling on the past, slamming the 2016 investigation into his campaign as a 'hoax' in light of developments in Special Counsel John Durham's investigation.
Trump spoke in an interview with Fox News host Mark Levin that aired on Sunday, following Durham's indictment that cast serious doubt on British ex-spy Christopher Steele's dossier claiming that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia.
'We're just starting to find out. Durham is getting interesting -- I wish it could have been faster, but it's getting very interesting,' said Trump.
'Russia, Russia is a hoax. They all know it was a hoax. It was fabricated, made up in order to make me look as bad as possible so she could win, crooked Hillary could win the election, he continued. 'They know it is a hoax, and made up.'
Trump spoke in an interview with Fox News host Mark Levin that aired on Sunday, following Durham's indictment that cast serious doubt on British ex-spy Christopher Steele's dossier
Durham's indictment charging Igor Danchenko (right), a Russian-born analyst living in Virginia, alleges that he fabricated one source and used a Democratic political operative as another
Durham's indictment charging Igor Danchenko, a Russian-born analyst living in Virginia, alleges that he fabricated one source and used a Democratic political operative as another for claims included in Steele's dossier.
The Steele dossier was cited in warrant applications by the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller in obtaining secret warrants to spy on a Trump campaign advisor, who was never charged with a crime.
Murdoch, the owner of Fox News who has previously supported Trump, on Wednesday reportedly warned that he should stop focusing on past grievances.
'The current American political debate is profound, whether about education or welfare or economic opportunity,' Murdoch said during an annual shareholders' meeting for News Corp, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.
'It is crucial that conservatives play an active, forceful role in that debate, but that will not happen if President Trump stays focused on the past. The past is the past, and the country is now in a contest to define the future.'
Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News who has previously supported Trump, on Wednesday reportedly warned that he should stop focusing on past grievances
Former UK intelligence officer Christopher Steele is seen in London last year
In his wide-ranging interview with Levin, Trump also took the time to mock President Joe Biden, blaming him for soaring inflation that is hitting Americans hard.
'Jimmy Carter is a very happy man. Because he is no longer going down as worst president in history,' Trump said.
'I was here doing the inflation -- during the inflation or stagflation of Jimmy Carter, it was a disaster, this is much worse,' he said.
Trump claimed that the price of gasoline is now $7.50 per gallon, appearing to refer to a single California gas station in a remote area near Big Sur that has hit that level in recent weeks.
Trump also defended his record on the COVID-19 pandemic, and accused the media of ignoring deaths that occurred during Biden's term.
In his wide-ranging interview with Levin, Trump also took the time to mock President Joe Biden, blaming him for soaring inflation that is hitting Americans hard
'Biden lost more people in last year, and he has vaccines it is amazing, they don't have death watch. A little chart of death watch,' he said. 'Every day, you'd see the death watch.'
It is true that more people have died from COVID-19 so far in 2021 than did in all of last year, according to the CDC.
'We phenomenal job, except with public relations, because no matter what we did the press would not cover it fairly. We did a fantastic job,' said Trump.
Trump was appearing on Levin to promote his new coffee table book, Our Journey Together, which contains photos and musings about his time in office.
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