Ever since the beginning of the Trump Administration, things have been going sideways on a number of issues. Chief among these is a massive amount of information leaks. From minor details to transcripts of phone calls with foreign leaders, almost nothing has been safe from the hands of investigative journalists. But is this the way things should be, especially when they involve top government secrets?
To start, leaks aren’t always unauthorized. Ever since the beginning of the modern press, politicians have been giving information to certain journalists or publications before general release for a number of beneficial reasons. But the ones coming out of the Trump White House clearly do not fit this mold, as evidenced by the frustration shown by Trump and his senior advisers.
There are many who would say these leaks are beneficial. They show the inner workings of the administration and expose its flaws, they argue. Lost in the general pitch for transparency, however, is the implications these leaks have for both domestic and international politics.
Domestically, leaks, especially ones exposing questionable language or actions by the administration, bolster Trump’s critics. We have seen constant sound bites and news stories centered on one juicy detail found in a disclosure. Those working with the administration are put on the defensive and are forced to come up with some sort of explanation, distracting from their jobs and goals.
If these were the only effects, these leaks might be able to be defended on solid footing. However, the international side brings many dangerous consequences into the equation. In foreign affairs, it’s essential the United States presents a unified front to the world. We need to show we support our allies, keep our enemies guessing, and work to advance national and global objectives.
When information is disclosed in the manner we have now, this front is broken. Foreign leaders will no longer speak their mind to the president, or vice versa, knowing it could be in the news. New defense policies are outed before implementation, allowing time for them to be undermined. Our enemies perceive the administration as weak and don’t take our negotiations or ultimatums seriously. Trust in the United States to hold sensitive information in international intelligence work will be lost, and the security of the entire world will suffer.
The safety of our country should never be a political casualty, and it seems there are those who would rather see this administration fail for four years to prove a point, with everyone in the country losing out as a result. Despite our differences at home, if we don’t show the world we are united as a country, our status will suffer. The president was elected in accordance with our laws and can also be voted out if we find his policies unsatisfactory.
This endless leaking must stop. If someone really has an irreconcilable rift with President Trump, they should come out publicly with their case, rather than hiding in the shadows feeding media sources with sensitive tidbits. Anonymous sources are just that – anonymous. As has been shown by a few stories lately, these sources are often distorted or outright wrong. If you’re uncomfortable working for this administration, you have every right to leave and find a more suitable employer.
Our news media should be out to find the facts and hold people to account but not by putting our national security information out for the world to see. There are plenty of legitimate, named sources for information on our government. Widespread leaks only lead to an arms race to see who can get the most sensitive scoop, with our international relations and security paying the price. I hope we can see past the point scoring to the true damage these actions cause.
Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
