With the release today of transcripts from Pres. Donald Trump’s phone calls with the Australian and Mexican heads of state, Dr. James Carafano, vice president of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, and John Malcolm, vice president of the Institute for Constitutional Government, offered their analysis on the negative impact such leaks have on the United States’ ability to conduct an effective foreign policy:

“National security leaks distract the president's national security team from the business of making tough decisions in trust and confidence, and they undermine the expectation of our friends and allies that their behind-the-scenes cooperative efforts, and the secrets they share with us, will not be exposed. Leaks can also jeopardize the lives of covert operatives who have assisted in our efforts to counteract and defeat those who mean us harm. Leaks may serve political agendas, but they hinder the nation’s business, and those who share information in such unauthorized ways should be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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