TPP #2: The Mar-a-Lago “incident”: Not a big deal

What happened at the dining area of the Mar-a-Lago, the estate and historic landmark in West Palm Beach, during President Trump’s meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on February 11? According to the New York Times, the events that took place represented a national security crisis in the open. On that night, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile, shooting it into the sea off its eastern coast.

Following that, the President and Prime Minister Abe conducted an emergency meeting to discuss the threat to national security. Many news channels and Americans accused Mr. Trump of discussing classified information in a packed restaurant. Many jumped straight to conclusions, assuming he does not care about national security. Now, what really happened on that infamous night at the Mar-a-Lago?

Since I am more about facts rather than assumptions, I prefer to rely on the words of Mr. DeAgazio, a patron at the restaurant when the scene unfolded. That night, he took a photograph of what went down in front of his eyes, expressing his excitement to see the President and his team’s reaction to the North Korean missile launch. Later, in an interview with the Washington Post, the retired investor said that the two leaders received briefings on what had happened, talked for a few minutes and then left the open terrace to go somewhere private. He even stated that President Trump acted very calmly and presidentially. Although that is just his opinion, it still gives an impression of the man contrary to popular belief.

After that, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed that no confidential information was discussed in the open at the Mar-a-Lago dining area. As a matter of fact, he said that the only thing that they discussed at the restaurant were press logistics and where to have their press conference. If that is not enough information to debunk that case, I do not know what is. Top aides of the President would not just go around giving out sensitive data in front of random of people eating dinner! Believing the contrary would be undermining their training, intelligence and basic common sense.