Fox Host Justifies Trump Inaction On Russian Bounty Intel: ‘All Presidents Don’t Read All Of Their Briefings’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Fox anchor Ainsley Earhardt joins professional baseball player Tim Tebow during "Fox & Friends" at Fox News Channel Studios on October 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John L... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Fox anchor Ainsley Earhardt joins professional baseball player Tim Tebow during "Fox & Friends" at Fox News Channel Studios on October 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt justified on Tuesday President Trump’s inaction on reports that he had been provided a written assessment on a Russian bribery scheme to pay militants to target and kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan because not all presidents “read all of their briefings.”

The comment came as “Fox & Friends” hosts discussed a deepening plot surrounding  a New York Times finding that Russian operatives offered rewards to Taliban-linked militias for killing U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan.  While the White House has maintained that the president was “not personally briefed,” the revelation raises questions about when and how the president is made aware of foreign intelligence concerns.

Trump over the weekend tweeted claims that he had not been briefed on the Russian bounty intelligence until Sunday when officials said after deeming the information was not “credible” they decided not to alert Trump to the matter. 

“The president has to make decisions based on intel that’s in front of him, and if he is not briefed on it then he doesn’t know about it,” Earhardt said echoing Trump’s swearing of ignorance on the issue. “If he is briefed on it, then he can act on it.”

But Trump’s assertion that he didn’t know about the Russian bribery scheme bristles against reports that officials familiar with the matter confirmed that Trump received a written briefing on the issue in late February – a point raised by co-host Steve Doocey. 

“All presidents don’t read all of their briefings,” Earhardt responded.

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Notable Replies

  1. My mom used to say, “Well if all the other kids jumped off a cliff, would you be stupid enough to follow?”

    Seriously. A toddler’s excuse from a toddlers administration.

  2. “If he is briefed on it, then he can act on it.”

    Ummm…so now that he knows, he’s planning to act? Bullshit.

  3. Avatar for spin spin says:

    It took fox a full three days to figure out the lie they were gong with,let’s see how long it lasts. Real tell there…

    The truth is coming out on this one, as it is a bridge too far for about 30% of the Republican Party. Part of their base really does revere and/or served in the military, and no lie can cover up that Donald is selling out our solders’ lives. This cuts Too hard against the Propaganda narrative Donald and Fox are trying to sell to stick. But the “oh he was not doing his job, do you expect him to” lie will blow up as more people leak the truth.

    The actual date - February 27 - when trump was briefed is in the nyt piece. That is “take him down” level leaking.

    The smart republicans. (E.g. Liz Cheany, Ben Sasse) are already breaking from him.

  4. ‘You know that reading stuff takes time, concentration, vocabulary, a grasp of English grammar and general knowledge. More than that, it takes time away from your golf game…’.

  5. How does any woman still work for that network? Its not like they’ve changed anything there. If anything its only gotten worse in all respects.

    Just pathetic mouthpieces totally devoted to propaganda. Look at your own polls, bimbo barbie. You’re not helping yourself in the credibility department. Let’s hope this is her last high-profile job and she’s working out of a drive-thru at Mickey D’s the next time we see her.

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