Trump wants to stop officials listening to calls

US President Donald Trump has said he might end the long-running practice of letting other administration officials listen in on presidential calls with foreign leaders. That’s after Trump’s impeachment was triggered by his July phone call with the president of Ukraine.

“I may end the practice entirely,” Trump told Geraldo Rivera in a radio interview that aired yesterday.

Trump was impeached over asking Ukraine to announce investigations of political rival Joe Biden and other Democrats in exchange for releasing withheld military aid. House Democrats also charged Trump with obstruction of Congress for refusing to turn over documents and provide witnesses.

The president’s impeachment stemmed from his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As is standard practice in any administration, the staffers, working in the secure Situation Room in the West Wing basement, chronicled the conversation. National Security Council personnel then prepared a memorandum about the call, which serves as an official record.

Larry Pfeiffer, a 30-year US intelligence veteran who managed the Situation Room during the Obama years, said the practice is meant to help and protect the president.

“It allows the president and the national security adviser to track any agreements made and to refute quickly and accurately any incorrect claims about the call made by the foreign side.”

“By stopping the practice, the president only shoots himself in the foot,” he said. “And one can only surmise that the president therefore has something to hide from his own staff and bureaucracy.”