President Trump on Monday called on The New York Times to “immediately release their sources” for a story on U.S. attacks on Russia’s power grid.
“The story in the @nytimes about the U.S. escalating attacks on Russia’s power grid is Fake News, and the Failing New York Times knows it,” Trump tweeted Monday. “They should immediately release their sources which, if they exist at all, which I doubt, are phony. Times must be held fully accountable!”
{mosads}The Times story in question reported the U.S. had increased digital attacks on the Russian power grid, with two administration officials telling the paper they believed the president had not been given detailed briefings on certain measures and saying they were reluctant to give him the full details for fear he would discuss them with foreign officials or try to intercede.
Trump on Sunday accused the Times of “a virtual act of Treason” for publishing the story, while simultaneously denying it was true.
The Times responded later that day, saying National Security Council officials had said they had no national security concerns about the details the story reported.
“Accusing the press of treason is dangerous,” the Times’s communications account tweeted. “We described the article to the government before publication. As our story notes, President Trump’s own national security officials said there were no concerns.”