United States President Donald Trump asks world leaders to call him directly on his cellphone, according to an Associated Press report.
According to U.S. officials, who requested anonymity, Trump gave Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto his personal number, inviting them to just call him directly.
AP reported that only Trudeau has utilized the direct communication line so far.
The U.S. leader also reportedly exchanged numbers with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron when the two spoke after the latter’s election victory in May, according to a French official.
The official, who also requested anonymity, refused to comment if Macron would communicate with Trump through his personal line.
Both the White House and Trudeau’s office refused to comment on the issue, which raised concerns about communications security and possible break of diplomacy,
“If you are speaking on an open line, then it’s an open line, meaning those who have the ability to monitor those conversations are doing so,” Derek Chollet, a former Pentagon adviser and National Security Council official told the AP.
The report came weeks after the supposed “confidential” transcript of the phone conversation between Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was publicized.
The full transcript, apparently revealed the conversation between Duterte and Trump that occurred during the closing of the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila in April 29.
Both the Philippine and U.S. governments refused to verify the transcript but none disputed its content either.
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Dana Sioson, Asian Journal Manila
