Former President Jimmy Carter confessed he believes, without evidence, President Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Instead of pointing to Clinton’s own flaws and skeletal campaign in the Upper Midwest, Carter said Trump’s “victory” could be attributed to one thing: Russian meddling. 

The comments will undoubtedly offend tens of millions of rational, intelligent Americans who consciously decided Donald Trump was the best candidate for them.

Mediaite reports:
 

Carter was speaking at a Carter Center conference on human rights in Virginia with author Jon Meacham when he made the remarks. (First reported by USA Today’s Susan Page.)

“I think the interference, though not yet quantified, should be fully investigated and would show that Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016, he lost the election,” Carter said.

“He was put into office because the Russians interfered,” he said. Carter was then asked if that meant he believed Trump was illegitimate.

…

Carter has spoken with Trump in the past and attended Trump’s inauguration. Earlier this year, Carter says he offered Trump advice on dealing with China after Trump called him to talk about the country.