After suggesting he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial of Moscow meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, US President Donald Trump attempted to clarify the comments on Sunday.

Watch video 01:37 Share Trump remarks ruffle feathers Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2nTrk Trump remarks ruffle feathers in Asia and at home

"I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election," Trump said referencing Putin at a news conference with Vietnam's president in Hanoi. "As to whether I believe it, I'm with our agencies."

"As currently led by fine people, I believe very much in our intelligence agencies," shortly before heading off to the Philippines for his final stop on his five-country maiden trip to Asia.

One day prior, Trump suggested he believed Putin's account over election interference. The remarks drew sharp criticism back at home as US intelligence agencies have long concluded that there was Russian meddling.

"Every time he sees me, he said: 'I didn't do that.' And I believe, I really believe that when he tells me that he means it," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday.

Former US intelligence director James Clapper told Reuters news agency that "the fact the president of the United States would take Putin at his word over that of the intelligence community is quite simply unconscionable."

Read more: Thriller in Manila: Trouble as Donald Trump meets 'Trump of the East'

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Vietnam 2017: Hand shakes and silk shirts US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin wear traditional Vietnamese blue silk shirts at the 2017 APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam. The APEC sartorial tradition was started by US President Bill Clinton in 1993, who handed out leather bomber jackets like those worn by American fighter pilots, apparently to let his fellow VIPs feel relaxed amid the formalities of their meetings

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Peru 2016: Waving hands and llikllas In 2016, leaders of APEC member states met in Peru to discuss human capital development, upgrading small- and medium-sized enterprises, the development of a regional food market and regional economic integration. At the summit's end on November 20, they took a group photo wearing a shawl inspired by the "lliklla," a traditional Peruvian rectangular shoulder cloth worn in the Andean regions.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Indonesia 2013: Leaders, spouses in matching prints The 2013 APEC summit, which took place in Indonesia, championed free and open trade and investment. Wearing Indonesia's traditional clothes, the leaders of APEC member countries poses for a group picture with their spouses in Nusa Dua, a resort island of Bali on October 7, 2013.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Singapore 2009: Baju melayu In 2009, then world leaders Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, iIndonesian Prime Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, US President Barack Obama, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and tChinese President Hu Jintao (left to right) smile and wave exchanged at the APEC summit in Singapore on November 14. They wore shirts of the Singaporean traditional baju melayu style.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Peru 2008: Andean ponchos Wearing traditional Peruvian ponchos, Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, top left, U.S. President George W. Bush, top center, Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet, top right, Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso, bottom left, and South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, bottom right, wave during the official group photo of the 2008 APEC summit, in Lima, Peru.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Vietnam 2006: Ao dai pastels Wearing traditional "ao dai," former U.S. President George W. Bush, top row left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, top row center, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, top row right, Chinese President Hu Jintao, bottom row left, and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet wave during a group photo with leaders of the APEC summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, November 19, 2006.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style South Korea 2005: Durumagi for China-Taiwan Relations Leaders of APEC member countries donned a traditional Korean overcoat known as the "durumagi" for their 2005 family photo. The word means "closed all around." Most of the 21 Pacific Rim leaders opted for a pale blue or yellow version. Such parity is rare in the China-Taiwan relationship.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Chile 2004: Colorful Chilean ponchos Former and current leaders of APEC member countries wear Chilean traditional ponchos as they pose for their official picture on November 21, 2004 in Santiago, Chile.

Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style Shanghai 2001: Stylish silk coats Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a point to former US President George W. Bush as former Chinese President Jiang Zemin watches the festivities. All wear traditional style silk jackets in this shot from the APEC leader's summit in Shanghai, China, on October 21, 2001, taken during the family photo session.



'Haters and fools' question Russia ties

Although he said he agreed with initelligence agencies, Trump later took to Twitter to slam those who question his efforts to improve cooperation and ties with Russia.

"When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," he wrote, adding that "Russia can greatly help" solve issues in Ukraine, Syria and North Korea.

US intelligence officials, including the CIA, have concluded that Russia interfered in the US election to help Trump defeat his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Current CIA director Mike Pompeo, who was appointed by Trump, said on Saturday he continues to agree with that assessment.

Read more: APEC: Donald Trump stresses ties with Asia-Pacific, but calls for 'better' trade deals

A special counsel and several Congressional committees are also currently investigating potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

The special counsel probe has so far led to the indictments of Trump's former campaign chairman and another top aide for financial crimes and other offenses unrelated to the campaign.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded 2013: Mr Trump goes to Russia June 18, 2013. Donald Trump tweeted: "The Miss Universe Pageant will be broadcast live from MOSCOW, RUSSIA on November 9. A big deal that will bring our countries together!" He later added: "Do you think Putin will be going - if so, will he become my new best friend?" October 17, 2013 Trump tells chat show host David Letterman he has conducted "a lot of business with the Russians."

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded September 2015: Hacking allegations raised An FBI agent told a tech-support contractor at the Democratic National Committee it may have been hacked. On May 18, 2016, James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, said there were "some indications" of cyberattacks aimed at the presidential campaigns. On June 14, 2016 the DNC announced it had been the victim of an attack by Russian hackers.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded July 20, 2016: Mr Kislyak enters the picture Senator Jeff Sessions - an early Trump endorser who led his national security advisory committee - met Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and a group of other ambassadors at a Republican National Convention event.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded July 22, 2016: Assange thickens the plot Julian Assange's WikiLeaks published 20,000 emails stolen from the DNC, appearing to show a preference for Hillary Clinton over Senator Bernie Sanders.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded July 25, 2016: Cometh the hour, Comey the man The FBI announced it was investigating the DNC hack saying "a compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously."

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded November 8, 2016: Trump elected Donald Trump is elected president of the United States. On November 9, the Russian parliament burst into applause at the news.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded November 10, 2016: Team Trump denies Russia link Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Rybakov said there "were contacts" between the Russian government and the Trump campaign during the election campaign. The Trump campaign issued a firm denial.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded November 18, 2016: Flynn appointed Trump named General Michael Flynn as his national security adviser. The former Defence Intelligence Agency chief was a top foreign policy adviser in Trump's campaign. Flynn resigned in February after failing to disclose full details of his communication with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded January 26, 2017: Yates - 'The center cannot hold' Acting attorney general Sally Yates told White House counsel Don McGahn that Flynn made false statements regarding his calls with Kislyak. On January 30 Trump fired Yates for refusing to enforce his travel ban, which was later blocked by federal courts.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded March 2, 2017: Sessions recuses himself Trump said he had "total confidence" in Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions announced he would recuse himself from any investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded March 20, 2017: FBI examines Trump-Kremlin links FBI Director James Comey confirmed before the House Select Committee on Intelligence that the FBI was investigating possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded May 9, 2017: Trump sacks Comey In a letter announcing the termination, Trump wrote: "While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau."

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded May 17, 2017: Mueller appointed special counsel Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to look into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded August 2017: FBI seizes documents from Manafort Shortly after Mueller convenes a grand jury for the investigation, the FBI seizes documents from one of Paul Manafort’s properties as part of a raid for Mueller’s probe. The former Trump campaigner manager stepped down in August 2016 after allegations surfaced that he had received large payments linked to Ukraine’s former pro-Russian government.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded September 2017: Trump Jr.'s talks to Senate committee Donald Trump Jr. tells the Senate Judiciary Committee he has not colluded with a foreign government. The closed-door interview relates to his June 2016 meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, which was also attended by his brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then campaign manager Paul Manafort. Trump Jr.’s emails, however, suggest the meeting was supposed to produce dirt on Clinton.

How Donald Trump's Russian connection unfolded October 2017: Internet giants allege Russian interference Facebook, Twitter and Google reportedly tell US media they have evidence that Russian operatives exploited platforms to spread disinformation during the 2016 US presidential election. The three companies are expected to appear before a Senate Intelligence Committee in November. Author: Jo Harper, Kathleen Schuster



rs/rc (AP, AFP, Reuters)