But for Russia's help, Donald Trump wouldn't even be president. That's the very real and likely scenario many, if not most, Democrats have suspected for some time. It's a prospect that so horrifies Trump—that he'd be a loser without outside help—that he can't even bring himself to take an interest in U.S. election security moving forward. And now, that horrifying prospect has been articulated by a living American president.
Former President Jimmy Carter told historian John Meacham Friday that there's "no doubt" Russia interfered in 2016, likely altering the outcome of the election.
"I think the interference, although not yet quantified, if fully investigated, would show that Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016," Carter said during an event on human rights. "He lost the election and he was put in office because the Russians interfered on his behalf."
Meacham wondered whether that meant Trump was an "illegitimate president." Carter paused, eventually admitting the obvious conclusion. "Based on what I just said, which I can't retract," he said, with a chuckle, “I would say yes.”
You know who won't be chuckling? Trump, who just hours earlier had conducted a photo op with Russian President Vladimir Putin and joked about Russia hacking our elections.
Asked by a reporter if he would tell Putin not to meddle in the upcoming cycle, Trump smirked. "Yes, of course I will," Trump responded, turning to Putin with a smile. "Don't meddle with the election," he offered.
What a pathetic wuss of a leader. The truth will out, eventually. Most likely it will surface when Trump no longer has a bully pulpit to combat it. With any luck, he'll seethe about that "illegitimate" tag for the rest of miserable life.
You can relish Carter’s comments below.