Donald Trump is doing his best to defend skipping out on intelligence briefings since he won the election last month.
I
t’s been recently reported that the president-elect only receives one intelligence meeting per week and on Sunday he alleged that he’s just too smart to receive them daily.
I get it when I need it, the 70-year-old said in an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
First of all, these are very good people that are 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.
Last week, Reuters published a report saying that the president-elect was only receiving one briefing per week—far fewer than his predecessors. Still, Trump said that daily briefings wouldn’t be necessary.
I’m, like, a smart person, he explained. I don’t have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years. Could be eight years—but eight years. I don’t need that.”Meanwhile, Trump confirmed that his running mate, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and his generals are receiving the intelligence briefings more frequently.
And I’m being briefed also, he promised, “but if they’re going to come in and tell me the exact same thing that they tell me — you know, it doesn’t change, necessarily.
Now, there will be times where it might change. I mean, there will be some very fluid situations. I’ll be there not every day, but more than that. But I don’t need to be told, 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.