Trump reportedly gave out his personal cell phone number to world leaders and US officials 'had no i
Source: Business Insider
President Donald Trump reportedly gave out his personal cell phone number to foreign leaders shortly after taking office and shocked White House officials when a summary of a conversation was released without their knowledge.
White House aides who were unaware Trump had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were startled after Canadian officials released a summary of a conversation in April 2017, according to a Washington Post report published on Friday.
"We had no idea what happened," a senior US official told The Post.
During the call, Trudeau reportedly objected to Trump's and his administration's claims of a trade imbalance between the two countries.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-personal-cellphone-call-canada-justin-trudeau-2018-7
This is especially concerning in light of this other discovery.
http://www.businessinsider.com/high-tech-phone-spying-devices-may-have-been-used-near-white-house-2018-6
It's not clear who may have operated the devices, known as IMSI catchers or Stingray devices, but it's possible they belonged to a foreign adversary. IMSI catchers work by mimicking phone towers, which fools cell phones and allows the devices to intercept calls, texts, and data streams, according to The Washington Post.
The May 22 DHS letter to Wyden stated that a study conducted from January to November of 2017 found "anomalous activity that appeared consistent with IMSI catcher technology within [Washington DC], including locations in proximity to potentially sensitive facilities like the White House."
DHS had previously communicated to Wyden that there were signs IMSI trackers were being used in the Washington, DC area, but this is the first time federal officials have acknowledged the potential use of these devices near the White House.
Sedona
(3,769 posts)don't the Trumpsters get?
No wonder I'm not sleeping well, no one should be.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)Because of the risk. It is an unprotect device.
They took Obama's blackberry for the same reason.
Which begs the question. Why have they not taken the tyrant's phone?
Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)Plus, he would probably just get another one. He reportedly also uses one with a blocked number. It would be nice if the FBI could be listening to his secret conversations. Im sure theyd hear all kinds of incriminating evidence he shares with billionaire friends to give them tips ahead of plans to rip a company through his tweets. I hope NATO leaders are wary about sharing any sensitive information with him as they must know that he will repeat even top-secret intel to Putin. Why is no one demanding that a U.S. interpreter also be present at all one-on-one meetings between Trump and Putin? I dont recall ever hearing Putin speak English in public, but as a KGB agent he may have learned. What secret U.S. intel is Trump planning to share with Putin?
Chemisse
(30,793 posts)He is putty in their hands.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)discover that the "enemy" is listening into phone calls made at one of his golf courses or Mar-A-Lago THEN they should worry. He spends most of his time there, rather than in the WH.
gordianot
(15,226 posts)The enemies of our Republic get first call from Trump the single greatest threat we ever faced.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)FakeNoose
(32,356 posts)It think it happened in the Middle Ages, not sure.
All I know is that he gave it up for 8 years and all official government business happened on the record. (Maybe he took personal calls from family/friends on a cellphone, I wouldn't know.) If Obama hadn't done this the Repukes would have gone absolutely ape-shit.
We need to make sure that laws get passed regulating all official presidential communications. Never assume that any POTUS will willingly give up their personal cellphone/email again. It must be legislated because it can't be left up to one person's (potentially flawed) judgment.