Trump: 'Friends' in Russia, China, 'hacked the hell' out of DNC emails

Donald Trump in Lynden during his one campaign stop in Washington. He is now saying that "friends" in China or Russia "hacked the hell" out of Democratic National Committee emails, and were responsible for the leak that has caused upset at the Democratic National Convention. (GRANT HINDSLEY, seattlepi.com) less Donald Trump in Lynden during his one campaign stop in Washington. He is now saying that "friends" in China or Russia "hacked the hell" out of Democratic National Committee emails, and were responsible for ... more Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM, GRANT HINDSLEY Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM, GRANT HINDSLEY Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Trump: 'Friends' in Russia, China, 'hacked the hell' out of DNC emails 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"'Friends' in Russia or China are responsible for the hacked Democratic National Committee emails published by Wiki leaks, Donald Trump told a Roanoke, Virginia, rally on Monday night.

Trump was in free association mode, so it was impossible to tell immediately if he was being deliberately outrageous, making yet another false statement, or saying something partially or entirely true.

Speaking of ousted Democratic National Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Trump declared: "Debbie was totally loyal to Hillary, and Hillary threw her under the bus." (Actually, Clinton tried to give Wasserman Schultz a soft landing by announcing she would be a surrogate in the fall campaign.)

"Little did she (Wasserman Schultz) know, Russia, China, one of our many many 'friends' -- Trump made a quotation gesture -- "came in and hacked the hell out of us. Can you imagine? Can you imagine?" said a gleeful Trump.

The Trump remark was broadcast on CNN. A Buzzfeed video later appeared on the Talking Points memo web site.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin fumed five years ago when Clinton and the U.S. State Department criticized a somewhat rigged Russian election. Putin put the blame on Clinton for mass demonstrations of middle class Russians protesting the election.

Trump has recently stated, in a New York Times interview, that the United State might not come to the aid of a NATO ally under attack, if that ally had fallen behind in its commitment to the 67-year-old alliance. The alliance has been a major force against Russian expansionism.

Trump was in a Putin-like take-no-prisoners mood in Roanoke.

He said two Republican opponents (Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich) have destroyed their careers by refusing to support him. He described Clinton as "low energy," a phrase Trump coined during the Republican primaries to describe foe Jeb Bush.

The Republican nominee even took to mocking his opponent's name, referring to Hillary Rodham Clinton as "Hillary Rotten Clinton."

Trump even took on the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center where the event was held. He claimed the air conditioning was not working and threatened to walk out on the bill. Trump has walked out on many bills during his business life.