In a recent opinion piece, concerns have been raised about the national security risk posed by former President Donald Trump, particularly if he were to be re-elected and receive intelligence briefings.
What Happened: Myra Adams, a former GOP campaign creative team member, expressed concerns in an opinion piece for The Hill, about Trump being a national security risk.
“Consider the likelihood that, starting next Jan. 20, sensitive secrets will be viewed by the most notorious national security risk living outside a federal penitentiary,” she wrote, referring to Trump.
Adams also compared his supporters with the “Axis of Evil,” a term coined to refer to a powerful authoritarian alliance determined to influence elections, launch cyberattacks, destabilize and wage wars against the U.S. and its allies.
Adams, who contributed to the 2004 and 2008 GOP presidential campaigns, highlighted that Trump’s potential re-election could pose severe domestic and global security challenges. This comes as Trump would receive intelligence briefings post-nomination, which Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) hopes will be simplified due to concerns about information sharing.
“If Trump is elected, the intel community will be fighting the Axis of Evil while reporting to a president known as a security risk, and who habitually disregards intelligence that fails to mesh with or interferes with his personal interests,” she added.
“Flush goes the White House toilet and possibly the nation.”
Historically, intelligence agencies have been wary of providing sensitive information to Trump. A New York Times report in 2022 cited a CIA counterintelligence official’s view of Trump as a security risk. This sentiment dates back to 2017 when an American intelligence official cautioned Israel about sharing intelligence with Trump, fearing leaks to Russia.
Trump’s handling of sensitive information has also been questioned, leading to a 32-count indictment under the Espionage Act for mishandling classified documents.
Trump’s loyalty to the U.S. and potential conflicting allegiances, such as his business dealings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are additional factors that would typically be scrutinized in a security clearance process. The intelligence community faces the prospect of reporting to a president with a history of security risks and personal interest conflicts.
Why It Matters: The intelligence community’s apprehension about sharing sensitive information with Trump is not without precedent. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton was reportedly “perplexed” over the possibility of Trump receiving intelligence briefings, citing the risk of disclosure.
Moreover, the call by Adam Schiff for intelligence briefings to be “dumbed down” for Trump underscores the ongoing concerns within the intelligence community about Trump’s handling of classified information.
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