"I get it when I need it," Trump said in an interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News that aired December 11.
"First of all, these are very good people that are giving me the briefings," he said. "And I say ‘If something should change from this point, immediately call me — I'm available on one minute's notice.' I'm, like, a smart person. I don't have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years — could be eight years…. I don't need that."
Trump also stressed that Vice President-elect Mike Pence does attend the daily briefings, and that his cabinet picks, including retired General James Mattis for secretary of defense and retired General John Kelly for secretary of homeland security are also regularly updated.
"In the meantime, my generals… are being briefed. And Mike Pence is being briefed, who is, by the way, one of my very good decisions," Trump said.
The president-elect pointed out that he planned to attend more briefings when necessary.
"But if they're going to come in and tell me the exact same thing that they told me — you know, it doesn't change, necessarily. Now, there will be times where it might change. I mean, there will be some very fluid situations. I'll be there not every day, but more than that. But I don't need to be told, Chris, the same thing every day, every morning — same words. 'Sir, nothing has changed. Let's go over it again.' I don't need that."
As of earlier this week, Trump had taken in four of the regular daily briefings, for an average of about one per week.
