Trump blames Obama for US security leaks

DONALD Trump last night accused Barack Obama of masterminding the protests and leaks against his presidency.

As he prepared to give his first ‘State of the Union’ speech, the US President insisted he deserved an ‘A’.

However, Mr Trump did not give himself perfect grades across the board, and admitted he deserved only a ‘C or C+’ in terms of communicating his ‘great’ achievements to the public.

While polls suggest significant dismay with his administration so far, in the interview with Fox News, broadcast just hours before his speech, Mr Trump blamed many of his troubles – including a raft of politically embarrassing leaks and mass demonstrations – on the outgoing White House administration. He said: ‘I think that President Obama’s behind it because his people are certainly behind it. Some of the leaks possibly come from that group, you know, some of the leaks – which are very serious leaks, because they’re very bad in terms of national security.’

The President, who provided no evidence to back- up his charge, said he did not expect the leaks to end. ‘It’s politics, that’s the way it is,’ he said. ‘And look, I have a very thick skin.’

While senior Obama appointees such as ex-CIA director John Brennan insist they have not been briefing journalists, some of the biggest intelligence leaks have come from unnamed officials in the old administration.

Mr Trump also claimed protesters are being paid to attend ‘town hall’ debates where they could harass Republican politicians.

The latest polls show margin- ally more Americans disapprove of Mr Trump’s performance than approve of it. By contrast, Mr Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were all far more popular in the early months of their presidency.

‘ I think I’ve done great things, but I don’t think I have – I and my people – I don’t think we’ve explained it well enough to the American public,’ Mr Trump said. ‘I think I get an A in terms of what I’ve actually done, but in terms of messaging, I’d give myself a C or C+.’

Mr Trump also gave himself an A for ‘effort’.

He conceded he did not have the support of a majority of Americans in polls but insisted those who do back him are more intense. ‘ The love is great,’ he added.

In a preview of his State of the Union address, he boasted of bringing back jobs to the US, highlighted his plans to substantially increase military spending, strengthen America’s borders and replace his predecessor’s ‘Obamacare’ health reforms.

Mr Trump also yesterday claimed the Obama administration was partly to blame for a botched US Navy Seal raid in Yemen in which a commando was killed.