Trump 'too smart' for intelligence briefings
Trump 'too smart' for intelligence briefings
President-elect Donald Trump has said he will not attend daily intelligence briefings as he doesn't need to be 'told the same thing every day'.
2 min read
Trump says he is a "smart person" [Getty]
The US President elect Donald Trump has said that he is too "smart" to attend intelligence briefings with security advisors, despite growing criticism of the Republican's understanding of government and foreign affairs.
"I get it when I need it," the 70-year-old said in an interview 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.'"
"I'm, like, a smart person," he explained Sunday. "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".
Trump said his generals are still receiving the intelligence briefings.
"And I'm being briefed also," he said, "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."
Meanwhile Trump announced Monday he will nominate retired general John Kelly to head the department of homeland security, the third ex-military man tapped for a top job in his presidential administration.
"General John Kelly's decades of military service and deep commitment to fighting the threat of terrorism inside our borders makes him the ideal choice to serve as our secretary of the department of homeland security," Trump said in a statement.
"I get it when I need it," the 70-year-old said in an interview 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.'"
"I'm, like, a smart person," he explained Sunday. "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".
Trump said his generals are still receiving the intelligence briefings.
"And I'm being briefed also," he said, "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."
Meanwhile Trump announced Monday he will nominate retired general John Kelly to head the department of homeland security, the third ex-military man tapped for a top job in his presidential administration.
"General John Kelly's decades of military service and deep commitment to fighting the threat of terrorism inside our borders makes him the ideal choice to serve as our secretary of the department of homeland security," Trump said in a statement.
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