Instant Insight

30-Second Take

• The notion of “Trump’s America” being an ally to Putin’s Russia is rooted in allegations from the 2016 presidential campaign.
• The Steele dossier, compiled by Christopher Steele, detailed potential collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials.
• Despite controversies, some dossier allegations have been corroborated by U.S. intelligence and the Mueller report.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The concept that Trump’s America could be seen as an ally to Putin’s Russia stems from the highly controversial Steele dossier. This dossier, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, alleged significant collaboration between President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russian officials.

Core Players

• Donald Trump – President Trump
• Vladimir Putin – President of Russia
• Christopher Steele – Former British intelligence officer and author of the Steele dossier
• Fusion GPS – The private investigative firm that hired Steele to compile the dossier

Key Numbers

• 2016: The year the Steele dossier was compiled and the U.S. presidential election took place.
• 35: The number of pages in the Steele dossier when it was published.
• 2017: The year the dossier was published by BuzzFeed News without Steele’s permission.
• $1 million: The amount reportedly paid to Fusion GPS for the research, partly by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The Steele dossier was a critical document in the narrative of Trump-Russia relations. It alleged that President Trump’s campaign had conspired with Russian operatives to influence the 2016 election and that Russia had gathered compromising information on Trump.

These allegations, though unverified, sparked widespread scrutiny and investigations, including the Mueller investigation.

Inside Forces

The dossier was compiled by Christopher Steele, a former head of the Russia Desk for British intelligence (MI6), who was working for Fusion GPS. This firm was indirectly hired by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Steele’s findings were passed to both British and American intelligence services, which took the allegations seriously and initiated investigations.

Power Dynamics

The relationship between President Trump and Putin has been a subject of intense scrutiny. The Steele dossier suggested that Putin favored Trump over Hillary Clinton and ordered an influence campaign to harm Clinton’s campaign.

This dynamic has led to ongoing discussions about the integrity of the 2016 election and potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

Outside Impact

The publication of the Steele dossier had significant broader implications. It contributed to the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s campaign, which eventually led to the Mueller investigation.

The dossier also played a role in the issuance of FISA warrants against Carter Page, a former Trump campaign advisor.

Future Forces

The legacy of the Steele dossier continues to influence U.S.-Russia relations and American politics. As new investigations and political developments emerge, the dossier remains a pivotal document.

Key areas to watch include future election interference, regulatory changes, and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia.

• Election security measures to prevent future interference
• Regulatory reforms in response to alleged collusion
• Diplomatic engagements and tensions between the U.S. and Russia

Data Points

• June 2016 – December 2016: Period during which the Steele dossier was compiled.
• January 10, 2017: The day BuzzFeed News published the Steele dossier without permission.
• March 2019: The Mueller report was released, referencing some allegations from the dossier.
• 2020 and beyond: Ongoing discussions and investigations into Trump-Russia relations.