President Donald Trump has been "tough on Russia," and has done things the Obama administration wasn't willing to take on, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said Monday.
"He authorized a bombing campaign in Syria against the Assad regime over Russian objections," Shah told Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
"He has authorized the sale of offensive weapons in Ukraine, again, against Russian objections. He has been tough, measured and smart when it comes to Russia."
Further, said Shah, the first place Democrats should look to blame is to the former administration, which "knew about this effort in 2014."
"They failed to act for several years," said Shah. "I think the president is looking at the whole world. He actually is responsible for America's foreign policy. He doesn't just get to complain from Congress or the peanut gallery, and he is working with the Russians in some areas and holding them to account in others."
Shah said he does not want to "get ahead" of what Trump is prepared to announce in connection with indictments handed down from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation against 13 Russian nationals. However, he argued that Trump's foreign policy actions have been effective.
"He has gotten Russia to go along with sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations," said Shah. "He has gotten them to go along with efforts in Afghanistan and the Middle East."
Relations with Russia are in a tough place, he acknowledged, especially because of the election meddling efforts.
"We have to work with Russia in some areas," said Shah, noting the nation is an adversary in some places but an ally in others.
Meanwhile, Shah also discussed Trump's reaction to the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida, insisting the president wants to fix and complete the national background system.
"Right now you have a bit of a patchwork in which local communities and states give information to, you know, one system," Shah said. "Our budget has increased for 200 personnel to help staff that system. We want to make sure that the background check process is fully staffed, that all information gets in."
He pointed out that many people in the community were raising red flags about accused school shooter Nikolas Cruz, and the administration wants to "understand what broke down."
"Unstable, dangerous people who law enforcement and their own family members are flagging as the case here, should never have access to a deadly weapon of that sort, and we want to make sure that we can do that in the proper way," said Shah.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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