Donald Trump defends secret talks with foreign governments

Donald Trump

Washington: President Donald Trump scrambled Thursday to throw off critics homing in on his insistence that he has the right to use dirt dug up on political opponents by foreign governments.

Trump's comment in an interview aired late Wednesday by ABC News television reignited controversy swirling since his 2016 election, when his campaign accepted offers of opposition research from Russia on his rival Hillary Clinton.

"I think you might want to listen..., there's nothing wrong with listening," Trump said when asked what he would do if a country such as Russia or China offered him assistance.

On Thursday, Trump hit back at a torrent of criticism by arguing that he talks with foreign figures "every day." "Should I immediately call the FBI about these calls and meetings? How ridiculous! I would never be trusted again," he tweeted.

But Trump referred to conversations with allies like the leaders of France and Britain, and even Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

The issue raised by critics is different: Trump's defense of his right to talk about his opponents with countries like Russia, that are seen in Washington as dangerous rivals.

Also Read: Donald Trump slams NYT for 'false report' on Mexico immigration deal

In his ABC interview, Trump said if such sources had dirt on opponents "I think I'd take it." He'd only "maybe" contact the FBI, he said "if I thought there was something wrong."

Also Read: President Donald Trump says relations with Emmanuel Macron 'outstanding'

Top stories of the day

• The Dutch mystery: Man wanted is on temple run in Maharashtra
• Win Rs 10,000 if you find the truck that dumped this debris in south Mumbai
• Mumbai Crime: Man rapes teenage girl in Bandra, blackmails her with video
• Mumbai: Banned newspaper is still vendors' first choice for serving food
• Meet Vasai's traffic stoppers who are being the change they wish to see
• Mumbai Crime: Chain-snatchers' new modus ends at police station lock-up
• Mumbai: Chain-snatching cases drop but recovery still poor
• Thane Municipal Corporation unprepared for monsoon, says social activist
• Mumbai: Bad roads this year, too at Aarey Colony
• Mumbai on alert in wake of cyclone Vayu: Disaster Management Department
• For non-SSC students, internal marks won't count
• Shiv Sena, BJP start bickering over CM's post, seat-sharing
• Ujjwala Raut: Here's what the 41 year old supermodel of the 90s is doing now
• Worst crimes: These monstrous mothers murdered their children!
• Amruta Fadnavis wows with her soulful performance in Los Angeles
• These famous schools, colleges are also popular for Bollywood shoots
• Narendra Modi shares a hearty laugh with Sri Lanka President
• Bollywood celebs you probably don't know are related
• Do you know Tamannaah Bhatia made her Bollywood debut at age 15?
• When Shahid Kapoor went out of his way to help his on-screen sister-in-law
• Saif Ali Khan feels bad when he reaches home and finds Taimur asleep
• Here's how Shahid Kapoor transformed for Kabir Singh
• Malaika Arora and Tara Sutaria's Bandra outing is all things casual
• World Cup 2019: Team India watch Salman Khan's new movie Bharat
• World Cup 2019: Warm-up win vs India doesn't mean Kiwis are are hot!
• World Cup 2019: Steve Waugh compares Hardik Pandya with Lance Klusener

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates