Trump says he's refusing intel briefings so he won't be accused of leaks

• Briefings also help candidates ensure that they don't say anything that undermines U.S. national security, former acting CIA Director Michael Morell explained in a Q&A with the Center for Presidential Transition.

Between the lines: Trump faces federal charges for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

• That scandal has further damaged his already strained relationship with the U.S. intelligence community.
• In 2021, President Biden withdrew Trump's access to classified briefings, which former presidents are typically entitled to, citing his predecessor's "erratic behavior."
• U.S. intelligence agencies had planned to provide Trump with briefings once he secured the Republican nomination, per NBC News.

What he's saying: "I don't need that briefing," he said. "They come in, they give you a briefing. And then two days later they leak it and then they say you leaked it."

• "So the only way to solve that problem is not to take it," he said. "I'll have plenty of [briefings] when I get in."

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