Trump slams NYT report on U.S. cyber attacks against Russia

The US President Donald Trump on Saturday accused The New York Times of “a virtual act of treason,” after the latter reported that the US is stepping up digital incursions into Russia’s electric power grid.

“Do you believe that the Failing New York Times just did a story stating that the United States is substantially increasing Cyber Attacks on Russia. This is a virtual act of Treason by a once great paper so desperate for a story, any story, even if bad for our Country,” tweeted the American President.

Trump tweeted that the accusations were “NOT TRUE,” calling the media “corrupt” and repeating accusations that journalists are “the enemy of the people.”

“ALSO, NOT TRUE! Anything goes with our Corrupt News Media today. They will do, or say, whatever it takes, with not even the slightest thought of consequence! These are true cowards and without a doubt, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” Trump continued to say.

The Times reported that the United States has increased measures to penetrate Russia’s power grid as a message to Moscow to stay out of American cyber infrastructure.

Current and former government officials have described the classified deployment of American computer code inside Russia’s power grid and other targets, the Times further reported.

In its Saturday report, the Times described “broad hesitation to go into detail with Mr Trump about operations against Russia for concern over his reaction — and the possibility that he might countermand it or discuss it with foreign officials.”

The news report also read that said efforts lay an aggressive groundwork for an attack on the Russian grid on an unprecedented scale if the two countries were to enter into conflict.