President-elect Donald Trump has received just two classified intelligence briefings since the election, in contrast to the nearly daily briefings his own vice president-elect has received, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
While Vice President-elect Mike Pence has set aside time to meet with intelligence analysts almost every day since Trump’s unexpected election victory, Trump has only received two briefings, according to a report by the Washington Post citing unnamed officials.
The President-elect received one briefing within days of winning the election and was given another on Tuesday, but has turned away other briefing opportunities, officials told the Washington Post.
Experts and former intelligence officials told the Washington Post that Trump is receiving fewer briefings than most presidents-elect were at this point. Barack Obama took part in regular intelligence briefings after his election win, as did Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush asked for daily briefings during his own transition.
Officials involved in Trump’s transition told the Washington Post that the President-elect has prioritized filling national security posts and has been otherwise occupied staffing his administration, and warned against ascribing undue importance to Trump’s briefing schedule.
A spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment to the Washington Post, and spokesmen for the Trump transition did not respond to requests for comment.
