Donald Trump: Jeff Sessions Should Investigate Anonymous ‘Deep State’ Op-Ed Writer

President Donald Trump encouraged Attorney General Jeff Sessions Friday to investigate the identity of the anonymous op-ed writer whose article was published in the New York Times.

“I would say Jeff should be investigating who the author of that piece was because I really believe it’s national security,” Trump said.

The president spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Fargo, North Dakota, for a fundraiser.

Trump said it was a “disgrace” that the New York Times could publish such a piece, calling it “very sad commentary” on the current state of the media. He also said the critic should speak publicly.

“I don’t mind criticism. I handle it. I fight back, I guess you’ve noticed, over the years,” he said.

He appeared comforted that most of his top officials denied authorship of the memo, but he warned that it could be dangerous to allow the anonymous critic to remain in his administration.

“Supposing I have a high-level national security, and he has got a clearance – we talked about clearances a lot recently – and he goes into a high-level meeting concerning China or Russia or North Korea or something,” he said, “I don’t want him in those meetings.”