[Regnum] The US National Security Agency (NSA) recorded a telephone conversation between a member of US President Donald Trump's inner circle and a foreign intelligence official. This was reported by The Guardian on February 7.
"The highly sensitive communiqué that caused a stir in Washington last week was shared with Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard," the newspaper noted.
Gabbard then handed over a paper copy of the materials to Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and the next day she ordered the NSA to stop distributing the information and ordered all data on the case to be sent directly to her office.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence denied allegations of a cover-up of the conversation, calling such an assessment politically motivated and false. The agency emphasized that all of Gabbard's actions were lawful and consistent with her authority.
On January 31, The New York Times (NYT) reported that EU leaders had secretly developed a plan to counter Trump. European politicians gathered for an emergency dinner in Brussels, the main topic of which was a discussion of Europe's strategy in a situation where relations with the United States are rapidly deteriorating.
According to the newspaper's sources, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for continued dialogue with Trump, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, on the contrary, stated that Europe should show determination and a willingness to fight back in order to gain the respect of the American leader.