Treason? Trump demands NYT hand over author of critical article
US President Donald Trump has demanded the New York Times turn over an anonymous White House official who penned an article claiming staffers were behind a "quiet resistance" to his "detrimental" actions.
In a series of late-night tweets the President blasted the "failing" newspaper, accused it of "treason" and called for the individual to be handed over.
"Does the so-called “Senior Administration Official” really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source?," he said. "If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!"
This was followed up some hours later with: "I’m draining the Swamp, and the Swamp is trying to fight back. Don’t worry, we will win!"
The NYT has said it knows the identity of the official but is not making that information public.
“Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations,” the author wrote.
“We believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.”
The official claimed that there had been “whispers” among Cabinet members of invoking the 25th amendment to replace the president but “no one wanted a constitutional crisis . . . so we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction”.
The 25th amendment allows for the removal of the President on the ground of incapacity.
“Many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office," the author added, saying the root cause was “the president’s amorality”.
“It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognise what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t.”
Yesterday Trump and his closest staff fought off claims in a new book by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, which details an incident in which an official took documents off the president’s desk “to protect national security”.