A "confused" former President Donald Trump directed House Republicans to "kill" a legislative effort Wednesday he mistook for another statute, according to Fox News' White House correspondent.
Jacqui Heinrich made this disturbing point about Trump's messaging to Republicans roughly two hours after NBC reported a "conservative revolt" blocked reauthorization of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
"Trump confused FISA Section 702 with FISA Title 1 when he directed House Republicans to tank reauthorization today," Heinrich wrote. "Confusion and misinformation about this national security tool is rampant."
Heinrich then shared two screenshots of Trump messages, the first a Truth Social message dated April 10, 2024, and second dated Jan. 18, 2018.
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"KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS," Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. "THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!"
The message "Kill FISA" then echoed through social media via conservatives such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, despite calls from the families of 9/11 victims pleading with House Republican to pass the security measure they believe could prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
But the legislation — which even Speaker Mike Johnson has called "critically important" — was blocked just 19 days before it is set to expire, according to NBC's report.
According to Heinrich's reporting, Trump might have agreed with Johnson's assessment, as he boasted about signing its reauthorization as president in 2018.
"Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection," Trump's older social media message reads. "This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election."
Section 702 permits the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons located outside the U.S., government documents show. Title 1 governs how the U.S. can target foreign powers and their agents, including those who are U.S. citizens.
Heinrich then explained, "Trump knew the difference."
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