The president discussed sensitive facts when meeting with high-ranking Russian officials last week
As President Donald Trump reels from the blowback following revelations that he discussed highly classified information concerning the Islamic State to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, new reports emerge about the chaos caused in his own White House by the President’s loose lips.
One adviser who has a close relationship with Trump told Politico that the president,”doesn’t really know any boundaries. He doesn’t think in those terms. He doesn’t sometimes realize the implications of what he’s saying. I don’t think it was his intention in any way to share any classified information. He wouldn’t want to do that.”
Another White House official told Politico via text message that Executive Branch chaos, “never stops. Basically chaos at all times.”
Although there isn’t any sign that Trump’s latest scandal has caused a major or lasting breach between himself and congressional Republicans, two senior GOP members said that the patience of Trump’s co-partisans will start getting strained, “if controversies just continue every single day.”
In general, Trump’s mood is described by his staffers as frustrated, with many worrying that firings are in the works. Everyone from low-level staffers to chief of staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon are considered to be on the chopping block. Reports suggest tha many in the White House are hoping that an impending 10-day international trip will help the news media (and thus the President himself) move past the latest spate of controversies.
Of course, Trump’s incessant tweeting doesn’t help matters, as demonstrated by the angry messages he fired off on Tuesday morning.
As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
…to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
Originally from Salon.com