Trump disturbs a hornet’s nest

T he Washington Post report that US President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about socalled Islamic State (IS) to Russia's foreign minister has understandably disturbed a hornet’s nest. While Trump has dismissed such allegations as “fake news” and National Security Adviser HR McMaster said the reporting was "false", the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee joined Democrats in slamming Donald Trump. The information, related to the use of laptops on aircraft, came from a partner of the US which had not given permission for it to be shared with Russia, said the report. The Trump campaign's alleged links to Moscow have dogged his presidency and are part of several investigations. The FBI is currently investigating the Trump campaign for possible ties to Russian interests. Meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak featured prominently in the firing of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Russian investigation matters. The feeling runs strong that US allies will be more reluctant to share sensitive intelligence information with the US, lest the president put sources at risk. President Trump’s shoot from the hip style is leaving his foreign policy in a shambles. The President’s strained relations with the FBI are not helping either. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, said on Twitter that “if true, this is a slap in the face to the intel community. Risking sources and methods is inexcusable, particularly with the Russians.” In a short time in office, Trump has rubbed far too many people on the wrong side and stirred controversies. His ties with the mainstream media are the worst for any president in recent times.

Suspicion of the Russians runs so deep in the US administration that even a hint of liaison with them is frowned upon. The Americans just cannot countenance their president having any kind of links with the Russians who they regard as perfidious and diabolical. If the ongoing investigations into Trump’s past links with the Russians lead to damning disclosures there would indeed be hell to pay for the US president. Right now Trump is managing to brave the allegations but as more exposes damage his credibility further more and more Republicans could make common cause with Democrats to cry for Trump’s impeachment, however difficult the process.