#Trump says intel on Russia-Taliban bounty plot to kill US soldiers wasn’t credible

President Trump on Sunday night said the reason he wasn’t briefed on Russia’s alleged bounty to the Taliban to kill US forces in Afghanistan is because intelligence officials didn’t find the report credible.

“Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP,” the president tweeted.

“Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!!”

Earlier Sunday, the president backed up White House claims that he and Pence were unaware of the alleged bounty.

The New York Times reported on the bounties Friday and claimed the president was made aware of the situation and discussed it in late March with the White House’s National Security Council.

The report said several options were weighed — including sanctions and a complaint to be made via diplomatic channel — but the White House had yet to authorize any response.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe released statements on Saturday saying that Trump and Pence had not been briefed.

McEnany’s statement commented on the “inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter.”