Latest outrage: Putin call, leakers
Memo told prez not to congratulate Vlad
President Trump’s renewed war against leakers in his own White House — which included a threat to fire anyone caught making unauthorized disclosures to the press — drew support even from critics of Trump’s decision to override his advisers’ warnings and congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election.
Critics of the president’s call to the Russian president — despite his own national security team’s written warning: “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” — openly shared his dismay that a member of his team would give such sensitive information to the press.
Michael McFaul, U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, had blasted Trump for dismissing the advice of his veteran security advisers. But when it came to Trump’s fury over the leak, McFaul tweeted: “On this, I agree with @realDonaldTrump.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who also criticized Trump’s congratulatory call, concurred, calling the leak an “outrage” and noting that it could have only come from Trump’s innermost circle.
“If you don’t like President resign,” Rubio tweeted, “but this ongoing pattern of duplicity holds potential for serious damage to the nation.”
Still, Trump defended his decision to call Putin, a day after The Washington Post reported that the warning was issued in a written note — and not in his oral security briefing from his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster — and that it was unclear whether Trump ever read it.
“I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also),” Trump tweeted yesterday. “The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong!”
Trump continued: “Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing. ... They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the ‘smarts.’ Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
Earlier in the day the White House issued a statement that it would be a “fireable offense and likely illegal” for staff to leak information about presidential briefings to the press. It was not clear whether the information was classified. Classified information is often included in his national security briefing materials.
The incident could also add to tensions between Trump and McMaster, who has been eyed by Trump for replacement, according to a number of news reports.