Trump drags key foreign allies into controversy over unproven wiretap claims

President Trump’s unproven allegation that his predecessor wiretapped Trump Tower in New York ahead of the election blazed a new path of political disruption Friday as he dragged two foreign allies into his increasingly thin argument that he is right.

Standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a White House news conference Friday afternoon, Trump declined to express regret for the accusation he tweeted nearly two weeks ago, despite some of the highest-ranking members of his own party saying they have seen no evidence that any such wiretapping occurred. Trump also passed on the opportunity to reject an unfounded report from a Fox News commentator asserting that British intelligence agents were involved in the alleged spying — even though White House officials had just assured livid British leaders that they would no longer promote the claim.

“As far as wiretapping, I guess by this past administration, at least we have something in common, perhaps,” Trump said to Merkel, referring to reports that the National Security Agency had tapped the chancellor’s phone in 2010 under President Barack Obama.

Read the full article at The Washington Post.