WASHINGTON (AP) — His toughness with Vladimir Putin in question, President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday he had told the Russian leader face to face to stay out of America's elections "and that's the way it's going to be."

A few hours earlier, Trump had answered "no" when asked if the longtime U.S. foe was still targeting American elections. That reply put the president sharply at odds with recent public warnings from his own intelligence chief, but the White House quickly stepped in to say his answer wasn't what it appeared.

By day's end, in an interview with CBS News, Trump was ready to...