--- title: Donald Trump: 5 Things We Learned From His News Conference description: President-elect Donald Trump held his first press conference since July, addressing reports of his ties to Russia and more canonical: https://time.com/4631688/donald-trump-news-conference-what-to-know/ author: Mahita Gajanan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-11T18:26:26.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:13:20.112Z article:section: Politics og:title: 5 Things We Learned From Donald Trump's News Conference og:description: The President-elect held his first press conference since July og:url: https://time.com/4631688/donald-trump-news-conference-what-to-know/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt05008c4162f8b5c5/6988b525196cf4d7ee03e734/trump-presser-things-learned.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: President-Elect Donald Trump Holds Press Conference In New York og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 5 Things We Learned From Donald Trump's News Conference twitter:description: The President-elect held his first press conference since July twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt05008c4162f8b5c5/6988b525196cf4d7ee03e734/trump-presser-things-learned.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 5 Things We Learned From Donald Trump's News Conference > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0533ea54-82fd-4b86-ba51-54d23db8f205&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump's First News Conference Since Presidential Election [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump's First News Conference Since Presidential Election](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/SPuibc6H.m3u8) (2:17)  _Published 2017-01-11. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday denied and denounced an unsubstantiated report that said Russia had compromising information about him, calling it an “absolute disgrace” during the first news conference he has hosted in about six months._ by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jan 11, 2017 6:26 PM UTC by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jan 11, 2017 6:26 PM UTC [President-elect Donald Trump](http://time.com/4631551/donald-trump-press-conference-russia-ethics-transcript/) held his first [press conference](http://time.com/4631349/donald-trump-news-conference-russia/) since July on Wednesday, addressing reports of his ties to Russia, plans for his administration and potential conflicts of interest he will face in office. Here are 5 things we learned from the news conference. **Trump’s thoughts on the alleged Russian hacking during the 2016 election** Trump acknowledged that Russia was behind [hacking the 2016 presidential election](http://time.com/4600177/election-hack-russia-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/), although he said other countries might also hold responsibility. “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,” he said. “But I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people.” **What Trump thinks about the recent reports of his ties to Russia** Trump denounced and denied an unsubstantiated intelligence document reporting that that said Russia had [compromising information](http://time.com/4631349/donald-trump-news-conference-russia/?xid=homepage) on him. He blamed the report on intelligence agencies and news outlets like BuzzFeed and CNN, calling their decision to [report on the claims](http://time.com/4631551/donald-trump-press-conference-russia-ethics-transcript/) “a sad and pathetic attempt to get clicks.” CNN reported on the document’s existence, but Buzzfeed leaked the document itself in its entirety. **How Trump plans to move forward with his business** The President-elect said he plans to [turn over his business to his sons](http://time.com/4631597/donald-trump-business-separation/?xid=homepage) and a longtime business executive, but will not sell it. According to a lawyer who worked with the Trump Organization, the company will not make foreign deals but will pursue domestic ones. **When he will nominate a new Supreme Court justice** Trump said he will nominate a [justice to the Supreme Court](http://time.com/4631607/donald-trump-supreme-court-justice-nominate-two-weeks/) within two weeks of his inauguration. The empty seat has been left vacant since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February. **An update on the status of Trump’s planned border wall with Mexico** Trump wants to get to work on building the [border wall with Mexico](http://time.com/4631631/donald-trump-mexico-border-wall-press-conference/) that he repeatedly promised during his campaign. He said Mexico will reimburse the U.S. for the wall. “I want to get the wall started,” he said. “I don’t want wait a year and half to make a deal with Mexico.” ## Transcript As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. But I think we also get hacked by other countries, and other people. Hacking's bad, and it shouldn't be done. But look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking. I saw the information, I read the information outside of that meeting. It's all fake news, it's phony stuff. It didn't happen, and it was gotten by opponents of ours. I have no dealings with Russia. I have no deals in Russia. I have no deals that could have been in Russia because we've stayed away. And I have no loans with Russia. Does anyone really believe that story? I'm also very much of a germaphobe, by the way. My two sons who are right here, Don and Eric, are going to be running the company. They are going to be running it in a very professional manner. They're not gonna discuss it with me. I'll be making the decision on who we will put up for Justice of the United States Supreme Court. A replacement for the great great Justice Scalia. That will be probably within two weeks of the 20th. I don't feel like waiting a year or a year and a half. We're gonna start building. Mexico in some form, and there are many different forms, will reimburse us. And they will reimburse us for the cost of the wall. That will happen. Whether it's a tax, or whether it's a payment, probably less likely that it's a payment. Well I'm not really seeing the tax returns, cuz as you know they're under audit. [ INAUDIBLE ] G I have never heard that. Ooh the G I have never heard that. I have never heard that. You know the only one who cares about my tax returns are the reporters okay. They are the only ones. No I dont think so. I won. I mean I became president. Go ahead. No not you. Not you your organisation is terrible. Your organization's terrible, let's go. Sir, sir. Go ahead. Quiet, quiet. Go ahead, she's asking a question, don't be rude. Can you give us a question? Don't be rude. Can you give us a question? Don't be rude, no I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news. 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