Reportedly, President Trump referred to accusations of ties with Russia as “Fake News.” Last Tuesday, Trump informed the public via Twitter that he was allowed to share information with Russia. With tensions high regarding Russian adversaries, the public has a right to be concerned.

Democrat and Republican alike believe this is the cherry on top and proof that Trump is incompetent. The problem is, journalists received information from last week’s meeting with Russia and did not seem to fact check any of it. Another problem is that the president has been known to go off track and make comments that lack subsistence.

So, who is to be believed?

The fake news is now real news

Trump originally stated that the news articles were fake news and later recanted, but questioned who leaked intelligence to the press. President Trump stated that he shared the information to assist with global airline security. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) insinuated that the president is delusional and needs psychological help. Many veterans and military members are also concerned about his behavior.

Despite accusations that the president needs help, we have to stick to the facts.

Sometimes classified information can be both classified and public. If an article refers to classified information but does not actually share it (most likely because the public should not and does not have access to that information) it is not a violation. These accusations are becoming trivial. Sound familiar? Kind of like her emails.

Trump and Russia in the White House

Shortly after FBI director James Comey was dismissed, Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak — a key figure in earlier Russia controversies. Anonymous officials reported that Trump began describing details of an Islamic State terrorist threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

In response, White House officials indicated that the president legally discussed threats that needed to be addressed to ensure the safety of our nation. He did not provide sources or jeopardize any missions. Still, government officials feel that Trump is careless and lacks awareness about the severity of intelligence sharing.

The most alarming part of this meeting is that President Trump did put lives at stake. He discussed the city in the Islamic State’s territory where the U.S. has a presence. This could severely impact missions and compromise our intelligence efforts.

With Trump going off script so often, it is likely that he lacks the diplomacy and professionalism to hold such a powerful position. But, we have to fact check and understand if there is a serious threat. White House officials indicated that Trump and Russian diplomats were merely discussing global issues that affect both countries. Let’s hope that in the future loose lips won’t sink ships.
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