Trump On Why He Doesn't Need Security Briefings
For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.
After facing criticism over the fact that he only receives presidential briefings once a week, Donald Trump has now expressed his belief that it's unnecessary for him to receive them daily because he's "like, a smart person," and he finds them to be repetitive.
In an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, the president-elect explained that he receives the presidential brief "when I need it," adding that, "I don’t have to be told the same thing and the same words every single day for the next 8 years."
WALLACE: I just want to ask you about your skepticism about the intelligence community. You are getting the presidential daily brief only once a week.
TRUMP: Yes. Well, I get it when I need it.
WALLACE: But, if there is some skepticism ...
TRUMP: Look, first of all, these are very good people giving me the briefings. And I say if something should change from this point, immediately call me, I’m available on one minute’s notice. I don’t have to be told, you know, I’m, like, a smart person. I don’t have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next 8 years. Could be 8 years, but 8 years. I don’t need that. But I do say, "If something should change, let us know."
Later in the interview, the president-elect went on to explain that while he does not attend the daily briefings, his running-mate and vice president-elect Indiana Governor Mike Pence does - before reiterating his belief that he doesn't "need" the briefings unless there's a "change."
TRUMP: Now, in the meantime, my generals are great, are being briefed. And Mike Pence is being briefed, who is by the way one of my very good decisions. He’s doing terrific. And they’re being briefed and I’m being briefed also. But if they’re gonna come and tell me the exact same thing that they told me, you know it doesn’t change necessarily, but there are times where it might change, I mean they’ll be some very fluid situations. I’ll be there, not every day, but more than that. But I don't need to be told every day, Chris, the same thing every day, every morning. Same words. "Sir, nothing has changed. Let's go over it again." I don't need that.
As Mashable points out, every president since Harry S. Truman has received daily security briefings, because no matter how boring or repetitive they may be, they contain crucial information about U.S. security threats. As a result, many people weren't too pleased with the president-elect's admission that he found them to be tedious.
President-elect Trump, who has no national security experience, calls intel briefings repetitive and says he gets them "when I need it" pic.twitter.com/LuXkqz4VIX
- Mark Berman (@markberman) December 11, 2016
The intel briefings include critical information designed to keep our troops safe. It changes every day. Trump ignores it, people will die.
- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 12, 2016
If Trump was as smart as he keeps telling us, he would appreciate all he has to learn. #TakeTheBriefings https://t.co/Ih20E5irAs
- Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 11, 2016
Others also pointed out how hypocritical Trump's feelings on the daily briefings were, based on the fact that he once falsely accused and criticized President Barack Obama for skipping his daily intelligence briefings due to being "too busy." (This was unfounded and untrue.)
Fact--Obama does not read his intelligence briefings nor does he get briefed in person by the CIA or DOD. Too busy I guess!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2014
Follow Gina on Twitter.
You Might Also Like
