A Very Stable Genius: on Government Reform

Barack Obama: 2016: sanctions against Russia for election interference

Trump was angry when he heard the news. He felt it was one thing for Clinton's advisors and allies to accuse Russia of meddling in the election; he could just accuse the Democrats of sour grapes. But retaliatory action against Russia by the US government effectively confirmed that Russia had interfered in the election--and that, Trump believed, raised doubts about his own victory.

Trump was piqued that the Obama administration was sticking his team with an aggressive slap at Russia--a significant foreign policy move--without so much as consulting him. Obama had signed the sanctions order with plans to announce it, but a few news outlets [leaked the story] that some retaliation against Russia was expected soon.