President Trump ratcheted up the U.S.’s feud with Russia on Thursday when he ordered multiple facilities belonging to the Federation to be shuttered. The move came after 755 American diplomats were expelled from Russia and with the election meddling investigation still looming. But despite this escalation, two of the Big Three Networks (ABC and CBS) failed to cover the story during their evening broadcasts, while NBC used the news to smear the Republican Party as possible Russian conspirators.
“The U.S. is getting new payback against Russia over its meddling in the 2016 election,” touted Anchor Lester Holt during NBC Nightly News. “Today Russia was ordered to shut down three diplomatic sites within the U.S. A move that prompted one Russian official to warn of an escalating diplomatic war.”
According to NBC reporter Peter Alexander, President Trump himself was the one to give the order to the State Department. “Tonight the U.S. retaliating against Russia, ordering the closure of three diplomatic offices in San Francisco, New York, and Washington within 48 hours,” he noted. “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone call today.”
“Today's action, not kicking out Russian diplomats, but closing two trade mission annexes and the San Francisco consulate general, the oldest Russian consulate in the U.S. And a prominent Russian lawmaker tonight insisting ‘the U.S. is declaring the hot phase of diplomatic war,’” Alexander added.
Back in July, Russia kicked 755 American diplomats out of the country in retaliation for the U.S. closing some of their stateside facilities it was said where used for spying. When asked about the expelled officials, Trump sarcastically thanked Putin, saying: “I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down on payroll.”
Apparently, Trumps’ sarcasm went right over Alexander’s head, because he seemed to think Trump was serious. “President Trump at the time expressing gratitude,” he claimed. And with a sense of skepticism, he added that “White House aides later dismissing that as a joke.” Alexander was either incredibly thick or purposely misleading about Trump’s statement.
Alexander was absolutely giddy to smear the Republican Party with faceless accusations of federal crimes, towards the end of his report. According to an anonymous source, former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort took notes on his phone during the infamous Trump Tower meeting with some Russians. And in those notes, it’s alleged, the words “donations” and “RNC” were near each other in some fashion.
“Investigators are now reviewing those notes, trying to determine if there was any talk of foreign donations to the Trump campaign or the Republican Party, contributions that would be illegal,” Alexander declared in a suspicious tone as he wrapped up his report.
Evening though NBC was the only network in the Big Three to report on the Trump administration’s efforts to get tough on Russia, they used the opportunity to use innuendo to insinuate the Republican Party was in on a plot.
Transcript below:
NBC Nightly News
August 31, 2017
7:12:24 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: The U.S. is getting new payback against Russia over its meddling in the 2016 election. Today Russia was ordered to shut down three diplomatic sites within the U.S. A move that prompted one Russian official to warn of an escalating diplomatic war. Our Peter Alexander has the latest.
[Cuts to video]
PETER ALEXANDER: Tonight the U.S. retaliating against Russia, ordering the closure of three diplomatic offices in San Francisco, New York, and Washington within 48 hours. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone call today. The decision coming from the President himself.
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: We've taken a firm and measured action in response to Russia's unfortunate decision earlier this year.
ALEXANDER: That decision from Vladimir Putin last month responding to new U.S. sanctions for Moscow's interfering in the election by expelling 755 American diplomats. President Trump at the time expressing gratitude.
DONALD TRUMP: I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down on payroll.
ALEXANDER: White House aides later dismissing that as a joke. Today's action not kicking out Russian diplomats but closing two trade mission annexes and the San Francisco consulate general, the oldest Russian consulate in the U.S. And a prominent Russian lawmaker tonight insisting “the U.S. is declaring the hot phase of diplomatic war.”
MICHAEL MCFAUL: The Trump administration had to respond. This was the right decision. Regrettable but necessary.
ALEXANDER: Also tonight, NBC News has learned former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort's notes, typed on a phone from that controversial Trump Tower meeting with Russians during the 2016 campaign, included a reference to political donations and RNC according to sources briefed on the evidence.
[Cuts back to live]
Investigators are now reviewing those notes, trying to determine if there was any talk of foreign donations to the Trump campaign or the Republican Party, contributions that would be illegal. Manafort's spokesman telling NBC News the suggestion is 100 percent false. Peter Alexander, NBC News, the White House.
