Shep Smith fact-checks Trump for claiming Russia was barred from G8 because Putin ‘outsmarted’ Obama – By Mike Brest (Washington Examiner) / Aug 26 2019
Fox News anchor Shep Smith fact-checked President Trump for his claim that Russia was removed from the G8 because “Russia outsmarted President Obama.”
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After annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia was ejected from the G8, of which they had been a member for nearly 20 years.
The president addressed the possibility of Russia being brought back in to the group in the future during a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday morning.
“That was outsmarting Obama. Russia outsmarted President Obama. They took over during his term. Not during mine. They took over Crimea,” Trump began. “The fact is President Putin totally outsmarted President Obama on Crimea and other things, including the red line in the sand.”
He continued, “It’s come up: should we put Russia back in? We spend a lot of time talking about Russia at those meetings and they’re not there. I think it would be a good thing if Russia were there so we can speak directly, not have to speak by telephone and other things. So here’s the thing. It’s a vote of what is now the G7. They were taken out because Putin outsmarted on Crimea.”
Smith addressed the president’s claim on his show Monday afternoon.
“President Trump says the Russians were removed from the group because President Putin outsmarted President Obama,” Smith stated. “That is not true. The decision to remove Russia from the group was unanimous. The reason? Putin invaded and annexed Crimea.”
