Defense Secretary James Mattis didn’t mince words on Saturday, as he never does, in speaking about Russian interference with American elections. Speaking Fox News anchor Brett Baier at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, Mattis not only said that Russia attempted to interfere in our 2018 mideterms, but that the U.S. won’t tolerate their interference and will do what it takes to stop them.
“This is a very complex situation because Mr. Putin is clearly a slow learner,” said the former Marine General. “He is not recognizing that what he is doing is actually creating the animosity against his people. He’s not acting in the best interest of the Russian people, and he is actually causing NATO to rearm and to strengthen…the unified stance of all the democracies together.”
“What we are seeing Putin do, with his ripping up of international agreements, violating in the Kerch Strait this last week, a joint statement, agreement between Ukraine and Russia,” he continued. “We are dealing with someone that we simply cannot trust.”
Asked by Baier if the relationship has worsened in the last few years, Mattis said “there is no doubt the relationship has worsened.” – READ MORE