Donald Trump Potentially Being Briefed on US Intelligence Raises Eyebrows

Ahead of Super Tuesday results, the possibility of Donald Trump becoming the GOP presidential nominee has sparked speculation the former president will be briefed on U.S. intelligence.

Trump has already begun cementing his position as the clear favorite to clinch the 2024 GOP nomination following resounding victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan. However, Trump is currently facing four criminal indictments, two of which were brought at the federal level by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Special Counsel Jack Smith. One of these federal cases pertains to Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after leaving the White House, with prosecutors accusing him of illegally retaining documents with sensitive national security information, storing them in poor conditions, and refusing to cooperate when asked to return them.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming that he had a right to retain the materials and possessed a broad authority to declassify documents during his presidency. He has also accused all of the investigations against him of being politically motivated efforts to harm his presidential campaign.

On Tuesday, some have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to speculate that if Trump wins the Republican presidential nomination, he could be briefed on U.S intelligence.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's campaign via email for comment.

David Priess, who served in the CIA during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations as an intelligence officer, noted the speculation in a series of posts as he posed a question about "what will happen this year to the tradition of classified intelligence briefings for the major party presidential candidates."

Priess continued by stating a years-long tradition that major-party presidential candidates have been offered intel briefings during their respective campaigns since 1952. However, it is not a law as it is considered just a courtesy for presidential candidates.

"The tradition began in 1952, when President Truman—reflecting on his sudden succession to the presidency in April 1945—offered classified briefings to both candidates (Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson) seeking to succeed him," Priess said.

However, as speculations continued to grow, some have taken to X to question the notion Trump should have access to U.S. intelligence given his ongoing legal cases.

Hugo Lowell, Political investigations reporter at the Guardian noted the possibility of Trump receiving a briefing while he prepares for trial in his classified documents case.

"Coming soon: Trump potentially receiving intel briefings as a presidential candidate while he prepares for trial in Florida over his retention of classified docs," Lowell wrote on X.

Civil rights attorney, Andrew C Laufer, Esq wrote on X, "Why do I hear the sound of cash registers come from Trump's mind? This is so painful."

Author Sophia A. Nelson said, "It seems there is a huge conflict here. Trump is a national security risk? What are we doing?!!!"

Meanwhile, X user Kami Lerner questioned if there is a way to stop Trump from receiving the briefing, citing his classified documents case. "Isn't there a way we can stop him from getting classified information considering that's the thing that he is under indictment for? Stealing classified documents? And what about the top-secret classified documents at Mar-a-Lago when Orbon goes there this weekend?"

This comes as the start date of Trump's trial in the classified documents case is being discussed as Smith's team requested a start date in July. However, Trump's legal team has requested a possible start date sometime in 2025, citing his campaign schedule. Trump has been widely accused of attempting to delay all of his cases until after the general election in November so that he can have them dismissed if he's reelected to a second term.