Trump reportedly enraged after 'do not congratulate' Putin note leaked to press

President Trump was reportedly enraged by the leak of information that suggests he congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his recent election victory despite national security personnel advising him not to.

According to officials who spoke with the Washington Post, a section in Trump’s briefing materials noted, “DO NOT CONGRATULATE.”

Regardless of why the advice was not heeded, the president is said to be furious that the matter was revealed to the press, according to an inside source.

CNN reports that the incident is said to have refueled Trump’s belief that there are people in the U.S. government who are out to get him.

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For some, the primary concern has been the message sent by Trump’s congratulations.

Republican Senator John McCain was among those who denounced the move.

“An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections,” McCain said in a statement. “And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election to determine their country’s future, including the countless Russian patriots who have risked so much to protest and resist Putin’s regime.”