Calls Edward Snowden a "traitor" who "should be executed"

In a phone interview on 'Fox & Friends' and subsequent tweets, Trump attacked NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, calling him a "traitor" and suggesting he "should be executed." He lamented that the U.S. couldn't get Snowden back to face charges, calling it "pathetic" and claiming Snowden had "really hurt us." This foreshadowed his later harsh stance on leakers and whistleblowers during his presidency.

"He's a traitor... there is still a thing called execution." — Comments on Fox & Friends regarding Edward Snowden, June 24, 2013