Donald Trump’s stance on hacked materials has shifted drastically since his 2016 presidential campaign. Back then, he openly encouraged Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s missing emails, even suggesting they would be rewarded by the press. However, when his current campaign announced they had been hacked by Iran, they condemned any news outlet that shared the leaked documents as aiding America’s enemies. This marks a stark contrast to Trump’s previous support of the Russian hacking of Clinton’s aides and the Democratic National Committee.
The details of the current hack remain unclear, with Microsoft reporting that Iranian hackers attempted to infiltrate an official’s account from a presidential campaign. The Trump campaign announced they had been hacked but did not identify the individual or provide further information. Iran has denied involvement in the hack, and the FBI is currently investigating the matter.
In the 2016 election, Russian hackers obtained emails from various Democratic organizations, including Clinton’s campaign chairman. Trump openly embraced the leaked material, even urging Russia to find Clinton’s emails. The hacked documents were released through third parties like Wikileaks, receiving significant news coverage and potentially influencing the election outcome.
Media experts, like Kathleen Hall Jamieson, have criticized the coverage of hacked materials in the 2016 election, questioning how news organizations handle such content. Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Clinton’s 2016 campaign, pointed out the hypocrisy of the Trump campaign now condemning the publication of hacked documents after previously benefiting from similar leaks. Merrill suggested a precedent had been set, but refrained from passing judgment on the issue. The shift in Trump’s stance on hacked materials highlights the complex and controversial role that such content plays in modern politics.
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