Starting long before revelations about Trump's interactions with Ukraine's president rocked Washington, Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders were an anxiety-ridden set of events for his aides and members of the administration, according to former and current officials. The Ukraine controversy has put a renewed focus on Trump's unorthodox way of interacting with fellow world leaders in diplomatic calls. This story is based on interviews with 12 former or current officials with knowledge of the president's foreign calls. On January 28, Trump called Putin for what should have been a routine formality: accepting a foreign leader's congratulations. Calls with foreign leaders have often been highly orchestrated events in past administrations.

Source: Stuff October 05, 2019 04:18 UTC