Trump Does it Again In Israel - Drags His Scandals Back Into the Spotlight

[leibowde84]

So, yesterday Trump took time to stress the following regarding his leaking of highly classified information to the Russians during his time in Israel after Netanyahu already stated that their intelligence cooperation was terrific. He literally stopped reporters as they were leaving the room (from Trump drags his scandals back into the spotlight on foreign trip):

“Hey, folks,” he said. “Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name ‘Israel.’ Never mentioned it during that conversation.”

He looked toward Netanyahu as he gestured toward the pack of reporters. “They were all saying I did,” the president said. “So you had another story wrong. Never mentioned the word ‘Israel.’”

The reports, however, generally did not allege that Trump specifically told the Russians that Israel may have been the source, and it's unclear if Trump even knew who the source was.

So, can we all agree that this was a pretty stupid gaffe? No news stories that I've seen suggest that Trump specifically told the Russians that Israel was the source of the information. So, was that just his overwhelming paranoia kicking in, was he protecting his super fragile ego? Why on earth would he say that?

 

[sun rise]

guilty conscience?

 

[icehorse]

I'm mostly sure he's mentally incompetent, but there is a tiny, tiny bit of me that thinks he's working on some triple fake-out maneuver, and all of this public stuff is a big misdirection.

but probably not.

 

[Kemosloby]

I guess we know now it was Israel.

 

[fantome profane]

Reminds me of the dumb criminal to refutes the accusations against him by saying, "I wasn't wearing a blue shirt when I stole her purse, I was wearing a black one"'

 

[Tumah]

Of the 5 times this article attributes security leaks by the Obama administration, two of them involve Israel.

Can't US presidents leak info about other countries?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Of the 5 times this article attributes security leaks by the Obama administration, two of them involve Israel.

Can't US presidents leak info about other countries?

According to that article none of the leaking listed there was actually done by Obama himself. Besides Trump made a big deal out this type of behavior on the campaign trial.

 

[Augustus]

Can't US presidents leak info about other countries?

Can Presidents actually leak info?

If they make it known to others aren't they declassifying it (as is their right)?

Others leak info as they have no right to actually reveal it.

 

[Tumah]

Can Presidents actually leak info?

If they make it known to others aren't they declassifying it (as is their right)?

Others leak info as they have no right to actually reveal it.

I saw that pointed out somewhere.

 

[metis]

In the past, presidents would explain why they needed to declassify a piece of intelligence with a formal paper written in legaleeze.

 

[leibowde84]

Of the 5 times this article attributes security leaks by the Obama administration, two of them involve Israel.

Can't US presidents leak info about other countries?

I think Israel has such a great system of intelligence sources that a ton of our info regarding terrorist organizations comes from them. They are the best at it.

 

[leibowde84]

Can Presidents actually leak info?

If they make it known to others aren't they declassifying it (as is their right)?

Others leak info as they have no right to actually reveal it.

Yeah. I don't think Trump did anything illegal, as he has the right to declassify anything he wants. It was just stupid considering what he said about Comey at that same meeting (which is now verified) and that he is so obviously cozying up to the Russians at a horrible time politically. And, no news articles were even claiming that Trump had told the Russians he had gotten the info from Israel. He confirmed it himself.

He has to realize that there are leaks all over his administration. His people are probably upset with him, as he isn't treating them very well. So, he has to be more careful. Especially with the Russians, who can't be trusted with anything.

 

[DavidFirth]

In the past, presidents would explain why they needed to declassify a piece of intelligence with a formal paper written in legaleeze.

I'd rather they just blurted it out than read that.

 

[columbus]

Yeah. I don't think Trump did anything illegal, as he has the right to declassify anything he wants...
no news articles were even claiming that Trump had told the Russians he had gotten the info from Israel. He confirmed it himself...
Especially with the Russians, who can't be trusted with anything.

Suppose you were an Israeli security official. You had top secret information from a source in Iran.
Would you share that information with the USA? Knowing that President Trump might "declassify" it over dinner with Iranian allies, Russia?
Seriously?

The Israelis are likely holding high level meetings to reevaluate what they have already shared with Russia by telling the USA, and how to proceed from here with an Iranian ally in the White House.
Tom

 

[DavidFirth]

Suppose you were an Israeli security official. You had top secret information from a source in Iran.
Would you share that information with the USA? Knowing that President Trump might "declassify" it over dinner with Iranian allies, Russia?
Seriously?

The Israelis are likely holding high level meetings to reevaluate what they have already shared with Russia by telling the USA, and how to proceed from here with an Iranian ally in the White House.
Tom

Or more likely they won't tell Trump anything else because he's too stupid to keep his mouth shut.

 

[columbus]

Or more likely they won't tell Trump anything else because he's too stupid to keep his mouth shut.

They can't tell the USA anything. Trump is president and they can't be sure what the president might find out about and "declassify" .
Especially if he is in debt to somebody somewhere.
Like Putin and Wikileaks.
Tom

 

[DavidFirth]

They can't tell the USA anything. Trump is president and they can't be sure what the president might find out about and "declassify" .
Especially if he is in debt to somebody somewhere.
Like Putin and Wikileaks.
Tom

Not a Trump fan, are you?

 

[metis]

I'd rather they just blurted it out than read that.

I don't because if our president is going to just spout out that which is classified w/o legal and pragmatic explanations, then we shouldn't be hypocritical and prosecute anyone else who may do it. Yes, he has the legal right to do as such, but explanations I believe should be in order.

 

[DavidFirth]

I don't because if our president is going to just spout out that which is classified w/o legal and pragmatic explanations, then we shouldn't be hypocritical and prosecute anyone else who may do it. Yes, he has the legal right to do as such, but explanations I believe should be in order.

Well, I doubt he is going to just blurt out all of our secrets. He isn't that stupid.

 

[columbus]

Well, I doubt he is going to just blurt out all of our secrets. He isn't that stupid.

Not all of them.
But enough to be hugely damaging to USA security. He might not even realize that he has, being quite inexperienced and incompetent.

Frankly, I think he might sell them. "Scrupulous" isn't feature of his character.
Tom