In early November, just two days after Donald Trump was elected president, he reportedly had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to sources, during the conversation, Trump told Putin not to escalate the war with Ukraine and reminded him about the U.S.’s military presence in Europe. However, the Kremlin denied the call ever happened, calling it “pure fiction.”
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What makes this situation even more concerning is that normally, the U.S. State Department helps organize these important calls between incoming presidents and world leaders. But in this case, it was left out, which means the calls weren’t done securely, and there were no experts or interpreters present to help with the conversations. This could lead to confusion or even misunderstandings between Trump and other countries, especially with such high-stakes discussions.
Brett Bruen, a former U.S. diplomat, expressed concern about these private calls, warning that without the proper support, they could cause serious problems. He compared it to a “telephone game,” where each side could interpret the conversation differently. If not handled properly, these misunderstandings could even spark international crises.
Trump’s transition team didn’t answer questions about why the State Department wasn’t involved, but it’s clear that this break from tradition is raising alarms.
While it’s normal for presidents-elect to speak with foreign leaders after an election, these calls usually stay friendly and involve pledges of cooperation. But some of Trump’s calls went beyond that, like the one with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, where they discussed serious topics like the threat from Iran. Trump’s comments to Putin also raised red flags, especially since federal law says that only the sitting president can make official foreign policy decisions.
It’s also problematic that these private calls weren’t held over secure lines, which means adversaries like Russia and China could be listening in. There’s also concern about other figures, like Elon Musk, being involved in these discussions. Musk, who is not a government official, has business interests in Ukraine and has been providing communication services there, which could lead to potential conflicts of interest.
All of this is compounded by concerns over how Trump has handled sensitive information in the past. He’s been criticized for mishandling classified documents, and this situation only adds to worries about how he might manage important national security issues in the future.
In short, these private calls between Trump and foreign leaders are raising serious concerns about security, clarity, and the potential for misunderstanding, and many are questioning whether this approach is the best way to handle such important discussions.
