The White House made clear to Newsmax on Monday the president feels there is some hypocrisy with the press focusing on alleged Russian involvement in the U.S presidential elections last year while making very little issue when his confidential conversations with fellow world leaders are leaked.
"Yeah, I think [President Donald Trump] is very concerned about that," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told us during an off-camera briefing for White House reporters. "There is obviously information that affects national security that has been leaked out that concerns him."
Spicer shared the president's feelings with us at a briefing dominated by questions about Mr. Trump's tweets Saturday that former President Obama ordered his campaign headquarters bugged in 2016 and calls for a congressional investigation.
As for the leaking to the press of confidential calls between President Trump by fellow world leaders, such as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and John Turnbill of Australia, Spicer said "when you see some of the leader calls that have been leaked out that are congratulatory and not necessarily dealing with state secrets or national security."
The president's top spokesman quickly added, however, "It gives you pause and concern to realize that if you're talking about something of national security, of something that affects two of our different economies or countries, whether it's China or North Korea, or whether you're actually talking to them or talking about them with another leader, there's obviously concern that those calls are getting leaked."
This is why Trump requested Congress to use its oversight authority investigate those leaks, Spicer emphasized.
"It is something of major concern," Spicer said. "And, frankly, when you recognize something that could have potential effect on all of our country, you do something about it."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.