Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected reports that he sought to give his grown children top secret security clearances so they could access the same classified information that he will be privy to during his administration.
“I am not trying to get ‘top level security clearance’ for my children,” Trump tweeted early Wednesday morning. “This was a typically false news story.”
I am not trying to get “top level security clearance” for my children. This was a typically false news story.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
NBC News reported Tuesday evening that the incoming Republican president was also looking into getting his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a security clearance so he could join Trump for his daily briefings.
Trump also took aim at the New York Times in a separate tweet, accusing them of being “so totally wrong” about the state of his transition team.
The failing @nytimes story is so totally wrong on transition. It is going so smoothly. Also, I have spoken to many foreign leaders.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
The Times, in addition to other outlets that have followed Trump’s transition operation, reported Tuesday that the transition team has been stalled by the recent shake-up of Vice President-elect Pence taking over the top leadership role from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Transition staffers have also struggled to fill top national security posts in the forthcoming administration, but Trump tweeted that things are going well so far.
He also insisted that he has spoken to several foreign leaders:
I have recieved and taken calls from many foreign leaders despite what the failing @nytimes said. Russia, U.K., China, Saudi Arabia, Japan,
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Australia, New Zealand, and more. I am always available to them. @nytimes is just upset that they looked like fools in their coverage of me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
