In a September 2016 interview with Interfax, Papadopoulos commented on the state of relations between the U.S. and Russia, stating that the Obama administration had promised cooperation with Russia but not followed through. He went on to note the differences between Obama's approach to Russia and a potential Trump presidency, saying, "[The] Obama administration was declaring it [the intent to cooperate] without taking concrete actions. There was no practical cooperation, and their words differed from their actions. That is why Russia does not believe in American promises, and the atmosphere of mutual confidence has been lost. Trump, if elected president, will restore the trust." Investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election Papadopoulos was the subject of federal investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and was arrested as a result of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Following his arrest on July 27, 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI, according to unsealed court documents on October 30, 2017. Papadopoulos falsely claimed that he had communicated with an unnamed "overseas professor" who told him Russia had thousands of Clinton's emails prior to Papadopoulos' work on the Trump campaign. He also downplayed his knowledge of the professor's connections to Russian government officials. Through the professor and another Russian national, Papadopoulos repeatedly tried to arrange meetings between Trump campaign officials and Russian government officials. On December 22, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) pardoned Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos was the subject of federal investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and was arrested as a result of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Following his arrest on July 27, 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI, according to unsealed court documents on October 30, 2017. Papadopoulos falsely claimed that he had communicated with an unnamed "overseas professor" who told him Russia had thousands of Clinton's emails prior to Papadopoulos' work on the Trump campaign. He also downplayed his knowledge of the professor's connections to Russian government officials. Through the professor and another Russian national, Papadopoulos repeatedly tried to arrange meetings between Trump campaign officials and Russian government officials. On December 22, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) pardoned Papadopoulos.

On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his bid for the presidency at Trump Tower in New York City. Nine months later, on March 21, 2016, Trump announced a list of foreign policy advisors for his campaign, including Papadopoulos. On a conference call with The Washington Post, he introduced Papadopoulos as "an oil and energy consultant. Excellent guy." The New York Times reported that policy experts were confused by some of Trump's choices for foreign policy advisors: "Mr. Trump has promised to hire the world’s brightest minds to make up for his lack of political experience, but his new foreign policy team left some of the country’s leading experts in the field scratching their heads as they tried to identify his choices." Speaking on the selections, Trump campaign co-chair and policy advisor Sam Clovis told the paper, "These are people who work for a living. If you’re looking for show ponies, you’re coming to the wrong stable." Comments on Russia-U.S. relations In a September 2016 interview with Interfax, Papadopoulos commented on the state of relations between the U.S. and Russia, stating that the Obama administration had promised cooperation with Russia but not followed through. He went on to note the differences between Obama's approach to Russia and a potential Trump presidency, saying, "[The] Obama administration was declaring it [the intent to cooperate] without taking concrete actions. There was no practical cooperation, and their words differed from their actions. That is why Russia does not believe in American promises, and the atmosphere of mutual confidence has been lost. Trump, if elected president, will restore the trust."