A month before the election, Donald Trump lavished praise on WikiLeaks, even saying he “loved” the organization. But now, the Trump administration wants its founder and editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, arrested.
Earlier today, reports emerged that the U.S. is seeking the arrest of WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange. Attorney general Jeff Sessions stated that arresting Assange was a “priority” for the Trump administration.
WikiLeaks was recently compared to a “hostile intelligence service” by CIA director Mike Pompeo following the organization’s publication of the Agency’s hacking tools in its “Vault 7” leaks.
Although President Trump has yet to directly comment, his administration’s stance on WikiLeaks is at odds with the attitude Trump displayed during the campaign. Just one month before the general election, then-candidate Trump told an audience of cheering supporters in Pennsylvania that he “loved” WikiLeaks.
(UPDATE: Trump has since commented on the Justice Department bringing criminal charges against Julian Assange, saying “It’s OK with me.”)
While he never made any public commitment to softening the United States’ stance on WikiLeaks, going from “loving” the organization to wanting its founder arrested is something of a u-turn.
During the campaign, Trump also made significant use of WikiLeaks releases, using them to drive a wedge between supporters of Hillary Clinton and her Democratic rival Bernie Sanders as early as July:
The Wikileaks e-mail release today was so bad to Sanders that it will make it impossible for him to support her, unless he is a fraud!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
In the final month of the campaign, Trump ramped up his use of Wikileaks material to attack Clinton.
I hope people are looking at the disgraceful behavior of Hillary Clinton as exposed by WikiLeaks. She is unfit to run.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
He attacked the media for failing to cover Wikileaks material, calling the information revealed by the organization “incredible.”
Very little pick-up by the dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks. So dishonest! Rigged system!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2016
He suggested WikiLeaks had proven the Obama Administration was protecting Clinton from prosecution over her use of private email servers.
We've all wondered how Hillary avoided prosecution for her email scheme. Wikileaks may have found the answer. Obama! https://t.co/xF0wv8Oa8q
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2016
WikiLeaks proves even the Clinton campaign knew Crooked mishandled classified info, but no one gets charged? RIGGED! https://t.co/FgGxDsS0a1
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2016
Trump’s citations of WikiLeaks continued throughout the final month of the campaign, including information on campaign contributions:
Huma calls it a "MESS," the rest of us call it CORRUPT! WikiLeaks catches Crooked in the act – again.#DrainTheSwamp https://t.co/juvdLIJPWu
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2016
The relationship between the Clinton campaign and reporters:
WikiLeaks reveals Clinton camp’s work with ‘VERY friendly and malleable reporters’ #DrainTheSwamp #CrookedHillaryhttps://t.co/bcYLslrxi0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2016
Clinton’s VP pick, Tim Kaine:
WikiLeaks: 'Clinton-Kaine Even Lied About Timing of Veep Pick'https://t.co/e1NVdpSfNr
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2016
Catholics:
Why has nobody asked Kaine about the horrible views emanated on WikiLeaks about Catholics? Media in the tank for Clinton but Trump will win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2016
John Podesta:
WikiLeaks emails reveal Podesta urging Clinton camp to 'dump' emails.
Time to #DrainTheSwamp!https://t.co/P3ajiACiXK— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2016
Etc:
'WikiLeaks Drip-Drop Releases Prove One Thing: There's No Nov. 8 Deadline on Clinton's Dishonesty and Scandals'https://t.co/MfRy3Nvd4F
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2016
With this extensive use of WikiLeaks material, as well as his aforementioned “love” for WikiLeaks, voters might have been forgiven for believing that Trump, once elected, would take a softer line against WikiLeaks than previous Presidents.
Of course, as WikiLeaks revealed, candidates sometimes have “private” positions and “public” positions. It was Clinton they revealed that about, though, not Trump.
You can follow Allum Bokhari on Twitter and add him on Facebook. Email tips and suggestions to abokhari@breitbart.com.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.