--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People knew Trump had strange…" description: "\"People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. Consequently, there is every reason to investigate whether Do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/richard-painter-14038_donald-trump_people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationsh_45469.jpg" --- # People knew Trump had strange relationships with the… ![“People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. Consequently, there is every reason to investigate whether Donald Trump is a Russian asset.” quote by Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/richard-painter-14038_donald-trump_people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationsh_45469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/richard-painter-14038_donald-trump_people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationsh_45469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/richard-painter-14038_donald-trump_people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationsh_45469.jpg) > “People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. Consequently, there is every reason to investigate whether Donald Trump is a Russian asset.” [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement suggests that pre‑election ties between Trump and Russia raise suspicion of covert influence, warranting formal scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Potential hidden Russian influence on Trump. Key Takeaway Investigate possible foreign asset status. Themes political corruption foreign influence accountability media narratives public trust Mood skeptical cautious Type political commentary investigative assertion When to use this quote - journalistic reporting - senate hearings - public debates - policy analysis Key Concepts election integrity national security political risk Practical Applications - government investigations - academic research Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would substantiate the claim? - How does this affect public confidence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) ## Related quotes > [“The story of Trump was the story of how he tried to make himself a story. He was shameless, campy, and instructive: if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-story-of-trump-was-the-story-of-how-he-tried-to-make-himself-a-2/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [I knew that Trump was ghastly. I knew I'd vote for Hillary if I had a vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-knew-that-trump-was-ghastly-i-knew-i-d-vote-for-hillary-if-i-had-a/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [“Few people who knew Trump had illusions about him. That was almost his appeal: he was what he was. Twinkle in his eye, larceny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/few-people-who-knew-trump-had-illusions-about-him-that-was-almost-his/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [I knew Trump was gonna be a very bad president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pfeiffer/i-knew-trump-was-gonna-be-a-very-bad-president/) [Daniel Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pfeiffer/) > [Many Republicans knew that Trump's anti-media attacks were damaging, and they cringed when his White House was consumed by his own narcissism. They knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/many-republicans-knew-that-trump-s-anti-media-attacks-were-damaging/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/donald-trump-wants-to-ignore-the-rule-of-law-he-ignores-the/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [If our country got along with Russia, that would be a great thing. When Putin goes out and tells everybody - and you talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-our-country-got-along-with-russia-that-would-be-a-great-thing-when/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am concerned that Donald Trump walks into the White House a walking conflict of interest in violation of the emoluments clause of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-vanden-heuvel/i-am-concerned-that-donald-trump-walks-into-the-white-house-a-walking/) [Katrina vanden Heuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-vanden-heuvel/) > [Donald Trump is taking flak from the media, establishment republicans and all the democrats for merely stating the obvious and the truth: Vladimir Putin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/donald-trump-is-taking-flak-from-the-media-establishment-republicans/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [While Democrats, including Barack Obama, mocked the notion that Russia is the greatest threat to our country, nobody has been tougher on Russia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/while-democrats-including-barack-obama-mocked-the-notion-that-russia/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [Donald Trump's own intelligence is publicly saying that Russia is actively trying to help him and hurt Joe Biden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/donald-trump-s-own-intelligence-is-publicly-saying-that-russia-is/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [All the arrows continue to point to a personal, political, and financial relationship that Donald Trump had with the Russians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/all-the-arrows-continue-to-point-to-a-personal-political-and/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) ## More by Richard Painter > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I am not going to apologize for my service to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-am-not-going-to-apologize-for-my-service-to-the-country/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/donald-trump-wants-to-ignore-the-rule-of-law-he-ignores-the/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I go on all the channels, mostly CNN and MSNBC. I have gone on Fox every couple of months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-go-on-all-the-channels-mostly-cnn-and-msnbc-i-have-gone-on-fox/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Here is where you get into the danger zone, when the government official starts talking about U.S. government business and then also talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/here-is-where-you-get-into-the-danger-zone-when-the-government/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think President Trump could pardon anyone he wanted and have it be an effective pardon. 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We've got to have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/we-have-two-political-parties-in-this-country-we-cannot-have-one-of/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [And imagine where we'd be today if President Franklin Roosevelt had owned apartment buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin. You know, some of us might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/and-imagine-where-we-d-be-today-if-president-franklin-roosevelt-had/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think most Minnesotans are in a grey zone politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-most-minnesotans-are-in-a-grey-zone-politically/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The course I teach, Professional Responsibility, was brought into law-school curriculums and required by most states for admission to the bar beginning in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-course-i-teach-professional-responsibility-was-brought-into-law/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The real problem with the Republican Party is that for decades it has shifted constantly to the right politically. Consequently, the Republican Party is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-real-problem-with-the-republican-party-is-that-for-decades-it-has/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Do not overlook that Donald Trump is an inherently unstable person. He's never been able to have stable businesses or stable marriages. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/do-not-overlook-that-donald-trump-is-an-inherently-unstable-person-he/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Republicans insist that if you're going to run for political office, you have to be loyal to President Trump. This is wrong. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/republicans-insist-that-if-you-re-going-to-run-for-political-office/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think we'll go through a period when there's a revival of concern about ethics. After Watergate, we got the Ethics in Government Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-we-ll-go-through-a-period-when-there-s-a-revival-of-concern/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) [Explore all 48 Richard Painter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## More Donald trump quotes > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump has been rewriting the rules since he got into politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/donald-trump-has-been-rewriting-the-rules-since-he-got-into-politics/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump doesn't necessarily stay mad for very long. He's a transactional guy. If you can offer him something, he will take it. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/donald-trump-doesn-t-necessarily-stay-mad-for-very-long-he-s-a/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If we turn our backs on the remaining industries and not reinvest in these places and just say 'You're on your own,' we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/if-we-turn-our-backs-on-the-remaining-industries-and-not-reinvest-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] knows he's going to get hit, though. He's the president. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/donald-trump-knows-he-s-going-to-get-hit-though-he-s-the-president/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) Browse all 2,538 Donald trump quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. 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