Gabbard considering Fox News-style briefings for Trump as he 'doesn't read'
Top intelligence officials are contemplating ways to better tailor their briefings to President Donald Trump, which could involve an unprecedented shift to Fox News-style presentations.
Several people familiar with the discussions told NBC News that National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard is currently consulting various current and former intelligence officials to help make her briefings-called President's Daily Brief, or PDB-resonate better with the president, whom several claimed harbors a deep skepticism of the intelligence community.
To make matters more difficult, the PBD is traditionally presented in a written format, which has proved difficult under the Trump administration as "the problem with Trump is that he doesn't read," one source claimed, making it an "a very uphill fight."
He also has been taking fewer briefings on average than both Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Trump has only received 14 briefings thus far roughly over 130 days into his second term, which is far less than his first term, during which he had received 55 briefings within the same time frame. Meanwhile, in comparison, Biden received 90 and Obama received 63.
While it is common for briefings to be tailored to a president's preferences, it would be unprecedented to make some of the changes being discussed. During his first term, Trump's intelligence team was advised to include fewer words and more images for the president's briefings, with Vice President Mike Pence allegedly telling briefers to "lean forward on maps," according to author John Helgerson.
However, his second administration is reportedly considering wildly unheard-of ideas such as creating a Fox News-style briefing, which could involve hiring a Fox News anchor to host the presentation. If given the green light, the Fox News personality would have to undergo a process to obtain a high-level security clearance.
White House officials have fiercely denied claims made in the NBC News report. White House Spokesman Davis Ingle slammed the report as "libelous garbage from unnamed sources" and DNI Press Secretary Olivia Coleman said it was "fake news," adding that the "so-called 'reporting' is laughable, absurd, and flat-out false."
"President Trump has assembled a world-class intelligence team who he is constantly communicating with and receiving real time updates on all pressing national security issues," Ingle said in a statement. "Ensuring the safety and security of the American people is President Trump's number one priority."
Given the "uphill fight," sources claim that Gabbard, an Afghan war veteran, has been open to such unconventional proposals.
"There was bipartisan consensus that the PDB was in need of serious reform," a source familiar with the internal discussions said. "DNI Gabbard is leading that reform and is ensuring the President receives timely, relevant, objective intelligence reporting."
The sources explained that the Fox News-style briefing option could be favorable given that President Trump is an avid watcher of the network and generally trusts its news personalities. Given the president's skepticism of the intelligence community, some are hopeful that a familiar face could soothe his concerns.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers have expressed concern that doing so would further politicize the president's briefings to align with his pre-conceived beliefs and interests.
The line of questioning comes as reports have surfaced claiming that Gabbard's Chief of Staff Joe Kent asked staff to revise their analysis of a Venezuelan criminal gang for potentially clashing with Trump's immigration policy. Reports have also surfaced alleging that two officials were fired "because they were unable to provide unbiased intelligence."
"Absent evidence to justify the firings, the workforce can only conclude that their jobs are contingent on producing analysis that is aligned with the president's political agenda, rather than truthful and apolitical," Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned in a statement to NBC News.
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