Biden calls Trump an ‘idiot’ for dismissing Russian election interference
Former Vice President Joe Biden called President Donald Trump an “idiot” for saying Russian interference in US elections is a hoax, the latest barb between the potential 2020 rivals.
The comments from the Democratic presidential candidate came during an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in which journalist Norah O’Donnell mentioned Trump’s claim that Russian election interference is a “hoax.”
“He’s an idiot — in terms of saying that. Everybody knows this. Everybody knows it. Nobody doubts it,” Biden said.
The US intelligence community determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Trump. Despite that, and despite indictments against members of Russian military intelligence for their alleged role in hacking, Trump has publicly sowed doubt about Russian involvement.
Biden and Trump have a lengthy history of exchanging critical and frequently personal words about one another. Their attacks have increased in frequency and vitriol since Biden announced his candidacy and has remained a top tier candidate in the Democratic race for president.
At a campaign rally earlier this month, Trump crudely discussed the former vice president in an attack addressed to his son.
“And your father was never considered smart, he was never considered a good senator, he was only a good vice president because he understood how to kiss Barack Obama’s a**,” Trump said.
Earlier this month, Biden called Trump “unhinged” in a 30-second campaign ad that was largely focused on Trump’s public and private efforts to get foreign governments to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, though there is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden. Trump’s efforts are the central focus of impeachment inquiry as the House investigates if Trump made foreign policy decisions contingent upon investigations into his political foes, including a conspiracy theory that casts blame for the 2016 Democratic National Committee hack against Ukrainians instead of the Russian government.
The two men also have boasted about being able to beat the other in a fistfight.
