China, Russia listening to Donald Trump's phone calls: NYT
What's the story
US spy agencies have determined that China and Russia are "eavesdropping" on President Donald Trump's phone calls, according to a news report by a prominent American daily. "Chinese spies are often listening to these phone calls and putting to use invaluable insights into how to best work the President and affect administration policy," The New York Times reported citing US officials. Here's more.
Information
Despite many requests, Trump uses iPhone to make some calls
Trump, the daily said, uses iPhone to make calls to his friends. He has refused to give this up, despite repeated requests by his officials, who have been asking him to make more use of the secure land lines.
Tapping calls
China trying to learn how Trump thinks, says NYT
"American spy agencies...learned that China and Russia were eavesdropping on the President's cellphone calls from human sources inside foreign governments and intercepting communications between foreign officials," NYT said. It said China is trying to learn how Trump thinks, what arguments tend to sway him, and to whom he is inclined to listen to keep a trade war with the US from escalating further.
Details
Russia not running operation like China because of Trump-Putin friendship
"The Chinese have pieced together a list of the people with whom Mr. Trump regularly speaks in hopes of using them to influence the President," some officials said, according to the newspaper. "Russia is not believed to be running as sophisticated an influence effort as China because of Trump's apparent affinity for President Vladimir Putin," a former official told the daily.
Trump's calls
Trump uses cellphones when he doesn't want WH to hear
The newspaper said Trump typically relies on his cellphones when he doesn't want a call going through the White House switchboard and logged for senior aides to see. "Many of those Mr. Trump speaks with, most often on his cellphones, such as Fox News hosts, share the President's political views, or simply enable his sense of grievance about any number of subjects," it said.