Trump has clashed with intelligence agencies repeatedly since his November election, mostly over the Russia story. The administration is considering conducting its own review of how the intelligence community is organized and conducts its operations.
During his Thursday series of tweets, Trump continued to blame Democrats for spreading stories about Russia and the election: "The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306), so they made up a story - RUSSIA. Fake news!" (Trump, who is also at war with the media, said in another tweet: "FAKE NEWS media, which makes up stories and 'sources,' is far more effective than the discredited Democrats - but they are fading fast!")
The intelligence community said there is compelling evidence that the Russians organized the hacking of Democratic officials during last year's election in a bid to help Trump, findings endorsed by many Republican lawmakers.
The government's ability to monitor the telephone calls of world leaders has long been a closely held secret. In 2013, leaks by National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed the NSA had monitored the cellphone calls of world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Snowden, who had been based in Hawaii, fled the country and now lives in Russia.
Many administrations have been troubled by leaks from the intelligence and military communities. In 1969, President Richard Nixon was frustrated by leaks, including one that revealed the secret bombing of Cambodia, and he authorized wiretaps on 17 government officials and journalists to try unsuccessfully to find the sources.
President Obama's administration tracked suspected leakers; Marine general James Cartwright pleaded guilt to lying to the FBI about telling a reporter about the U.S. government's involvement in planting a computer virus that disrupted Iran's nuclear program. Obama pardoned Cartwright last month.
