Quote · The MeidasTouch Podcast
Trump Surfaces and Crashes Out at Presser
Where this was said
Bill Pulte, FISA, and the Declassify-Anything Order
At 15:15 · chapter starts 13:50
Ben Meiselas turns to the question of national security. Bill Pulte, Trump's acting Director of National Intelligence, has not passed a security background check, has no national intelligence experience, and the Senate has refused to reauthorize FISA at least in part because of discomfort with Pulte being in the role. Despite all of this, Trump reveals at the press conference that he told Pulte he can 'declassify whatever you want.' Trump frames Pulte as a temporary placeholder until Jay Clayton — who has a Senate confirmation hearing in two weeks — takes over. Meiselas expresses alarm at the idea of someone unqualified in national security having blanket declassification authority, imagining the delight this would bring to foreign adversaries.
Trump said the U.S. hit Iran 'very hard for 3 nights' but immediately followed up by saying denuclearization is 'moving along well' and 'we're getting along very well.' Meanwhile, zero ships are using CENTCOM's Strait of Hormuz lanes.
