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Donald Trump says he’s too smart for daily intelligence briefings

He tells Fox News Sunday that his generals are briefed more frequently

Justin Carissimo
New York
Sunday 11 December 2016 16:27 GMT
Donald Trump says he doesn't need daily intelligence briefings as President because he's 'smart'

Donald Trump is doing his best to defend skipping out on intelligence briefings since he won the election last month.

It's recently been reported that the President-elect only receives one briefing per week and on Sunday, he suggested that he is too smart to be given 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, Mr Trump said that daily briefings are not necessary.

"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."

Meanwhile, Mr 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 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."

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