President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE on Sunday blamed his predecessor for the response to Russian election interference in 2016, which he appeared to call "a big hoax."

"So President Obama knew about Russia before the Election," Trump tweeted. "Why didn’t he do something about it? Why didn’t he tell our campaign?"

"Because it is all a big hoax, that’s why, and he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win!!!"

So President Obama knew about Russia before the Election. Why didn’t he do something about it? Why didn’t he tell our campaign? Because it is all a big hoax, that’s why, and he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2018

ADVERTISEMENT

The statement follows Trump's insistence this week that he believes Russian operatives sought to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump faced widespread pushback last week following a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Trump appeared to cast doubt on the Kremlin's interference in the presidential race. Trump said Putin was "extremely strong and powerful in his denial" of Russian meddling and added he didn't see a reason why it "would" be Russia.

After days of intense criticism, Trump walked back the statement, claiming he meant to say he didn't see a reason why it "wouldn't" be Russia. Though he said he trusted the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia did interfere, he repeated a claim that other parties could have been involved in the meddling.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE last week said publicly that Russia definitively interfered in the election. Nielsen said some level of Russian interference is still present, and Coats said there is "no doubt" Russia sees the November midterm elections as a potential target.

The Trump-Putin press conference and ensuing blowback came days after special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials for conspiring to interfere in the 2016 election by hacking Democratic organizations and individuals.

Trump has deflected criticism about his performance in Helsinki, Finland, by criticizing former President Obama, continually claiming his administration did nothing when they received reports that Russia was conspiring to sow discord on U.S. soil.

"The stories you heard about the 12 Russians yesterday took place during the Obama Administration, not the Trump Administration,” he tweeted last week. "Why didn’t they do something about it, especially when it was reported that President Obama was informed by the FBI in September, before the Election?"

The Obama administration in 2016 accused Russia of deploying hackers during the presidential race and issued sanctions against the country for its actions. After the election, under Obama's orders, the major U.S. intelligence agencies issued a report stating that Russia was responsible for breaching U.S. systems.

Obama has also claimed he told Putin to end Moscow's meddling in the U.S. electoral system.