Former President George W. Bush spoke definitively about Russian election meddling during a talk in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, standing in clear contrast with President Trump who still refuses to admit Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign.
“There’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled,” Bush said at a talk in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. “Whether they affected the outcome is another question.”
Bush also said that “it’s problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election system. Our democracy is only as good as people trust the results.”
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Speaking of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush called him “zero-sum.”
“He’s got a chip on his shoulder,” Bush said of Putin. “The reason he does is because of the demise of the Soviet Union troubles him. Therefore, much of his moves (are) to regain Soviet hegemony.”
Bush also stressed the need to back NATO and other alliances the U.S. has with the world.
Putin “is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses,” the former president said. “That’s why NATO is very important.”