Trump Sees 'Hoax No. 7' Underway in DC

Reports that intelligence officials informed Congress that Russia is meddling on President Trump's behalf in the 2020 election have caught Trump's attention, and he's not happy with the news—specifically that the lawmakers were informed about it. Sources told the New York Times and Washington Post that during the closed-door Feb. 13 briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, intel officials warned that Russia wants a Trump win in 2020, and that it has already started interfering to help make that happen, with plans to also disrupt the Democratic primaries, weaponize social media, and go after election infrastructure. Trump is reportedly angry that the briefing took place, which CNN's Stephen Collinson notes he found out about from GOP Rep. Devin Nunes.

The target he's lashing out at (besides Joseph Maguire, fired this week by Trump as the acting director of national intelligence)? "Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!" he tweeted Friday, per the Hill. Lawmakers on the intel panel haven't released any details on the classified briefing. Trump was said to be miffed because he's concerned Democrats (specifically Rep. Adam Schiff, who led impeachment proceedings against him) may try to use that info against him. (More Election 2020 stories.)