Biden will wait for recommendation on sharing secrets with Trump

 

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden arrives to introduce key members of his White House science team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., January 16, 2021 REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will wait for a recommendation from his intelligence advisers on whether to share classified information with President Donald Trump after the Republican leaves office, Biden's top aide said on Sunday.

 

Ron Klain, the incoming White House chief of staff, made the comment after former principal deputy director of national intelligence, Sue Gordon, wrote an op-ed arguing against sharing such information with Trump once he has left the presidency.

 

"With this simple act — which is solely the new president’s prerogative — Joe Biden can mitigate one aspect of the potential national security risk posed by Donald Trump, private citizen," Gordon said in a Washington Post piece headlined "A former president Trump won't 'need to know.' Cut off his intelligence."

 

Asked about Gordon's recommendation, Klain told CNN's "State of the Union" program that Biden would want to hear from his own intelligence professionals before making any decision.

 

"We'll certainly look for a recommendation from the intelligence professionals in the Biden administration ... and we will act on that recommendation," he said.

 

Gordon, who resigned in 2019, said any former president was a foreign intelligence target but Trump "might be unusually vulnerable to bad actors with ill intent," citing, among other things, his business interests abroad.

 

"It is not clear that he understands the tradecraft to which he has been exposed, the reasons the knowledge he has acquired must be protected from disclosure, or the intentions and capabilities of adversaries," she added.

 

Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff was more blunt, telling CBS' "Face The Nation" program, "I don't think he can be trusted with it."

 

(Reporting By Arshad Mohammed and Jan Wolfe; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-18

 

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When I saw this OP my first reaction was  Whisky  Tango Foxtrot

We could not trust him with secrets while he was president and we will trust him with secrets after ?

What! Biden will do without Trump's advices on security issues? ????

I think it’s a diplomatic way to say you have to be kidding personally I doubt we have many secrets left after watching trump try to suck up to Putin 

Don't give him your twitter password Joe ????

I am sure Biden learned one thing from Trump: Do whatever you want. Even if it is illegal, you will get away with it.

 

Obviously Biden should be careful using this principle. But keeping secrets away from Trump is a prime example for using this technique. 

17 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Don't give him your twitter password Joe ????

Like MAGA2020?

555

Whatever Trump with Know so would Putin

Confidential and security information has a $ value I know which Trump would take.

2 hours ago, sirineou said:

When I saw this OP my first reaction was  Whisky  Tango Foxtrot

We could not trust him with secrets while he was president and we will trust him with secrets after ?

Or put it another way, there's a good chance he will turn such information into opportunity for him and his scaly family and whilst doing that reveal lots of information (which should remain secret) to the world. I wouldn't trust him with 1 Baht.

Sharing intel with a former POTUS is a courtesy, not a right.  If there is anyone not deserving of any courtesy whatsoever---never mind the fact he simply cannot be trusted---it's 45.

 

If I shared anything with 45, it would be "Woman Man Person Camera TV". Good enough.

The only thing Biden needs to ask him is "Do you want to see the P*ss Tape before it's declassified?"

Just put them in a letter...he won't even bother to read it.

regards Worgeordie

I wouldnt worry about it.  I doubt anyone would believe anything coming from Trump's mouth in any case.

Only in US! Why in the world should a coming president share secrets with a person that are walking away from a post?

If an employee of Apple get fired, will the next employee share all the company secrets with that guy before he walks?

9 minutes ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Only in US! Why in the world should a coming president share secrets with a person that are walking away from a post?

If an employee of Apple get fired, will the next employee share all the company secrets with that guy before he walks?

It's a traditional thing.  Ex-Presidents can play an important role for the incumbent by sharing their opinions and insights from their time in office.  They would need classified intel info in order to play this role.  But Trump is such an incompetent idiot who never took his job seriously and would be unlikely to provide any sort of sound advice.  He's also hopelessly corrupt and would undoubtedly use this info to line his own pockets and his buddies. 

Defense Dept officials are telling Associated Press (AP) that they fear an insider attack against the Inauguration and are doing extra vetting of National Guard Troops.

 

Such is the America 45 has spawned from the depths of Hell.

 

https://apnews.com/article/biden-inauguration-joe-biden-capitol-siege-ap-top-news-857bacc273e16ff82dc9fefed1242ae8

5 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

It's a traditional thing.  Ex-Presidents can play an important role for the incumbent by sharing their opinions and insights from their time in office.  They would need classified intel info in order to play this role.  But Trump is such an incompetent idiot who never took his job seriously and would be unlikely to provide any sort of sound advice.  He's also hopelessly corrupt and would undoubtedly use this info to line his own pockets and his buddies. 

Biden should break with tradition since Trump trampled on all traditions. Alternatively, present the secrets in long pages of text. Trump would lose interest quickly.

10 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

It's a traditional thing.  Ex-Presidents can play an important role for the incumbent by sharing their opinions and insights from their time in office.  They would need classified intel info in order to play this role.  But Trump is such an incompetent idiot who never took his job seriously and would be unlikely to provide any sort of sound advice.  He's also hopelessly corrupt and would undoubtedly use this info to line his own pockets and his buddies. 

Yes! A very stupid tradition! Have they ever heard of administration where all is noted and can be accessed by the new appointed president. The old one is leaving, and have at his inaguration agreed to sign a document that prohibits him to hide any secrets nor take them with him leaving the office.

Could always use him in disinformation operations; it's one thing he excels at.

38 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

I wouldnt worry about it.  I doubt anyone would believe anything coming from Trump's mouth in any case.

Apparently there are 70 odd million American's who do sadly !

 

22 minutes ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Only in US! Why in the world should a coming president share secrets with a person that are walking away from a post?

If an employee of Apple get fired, will the next employee share all the company secrets with that guy before he walks?

Because former presidents are usually a wealth of experience and guidance. If you look at pre Trump era, USA was an example of democracy with smooth transition and strategic teamwork. Kennedy relied on Eisenhower during Bay of Pigs crisis. Obama used 2nd Bush president for Africa outreach. Clinton worked with Bush 1st president for catastrophe relief.  presidents rely on ex presidents because they are the only people who understand the job.

 

Trump was the absentee president who did not get involved in day to day activity and who played more golf than any other president. He did not give courtesy of full briefings to former Presidents. Unlike Trump, Biden will restore briefings to Clinton, Bush and Obama and will use them for special projects around the world. Biden is lucky that he had 8 years to learn the job when he was VP. He will hit the ground running with minimal learning curve. He can count on support of Bush, Obama, Clinton who will do whatever they can to restore dignity of the office. Trump can be trusted with nothing. 

 

15 minutes ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Yes! A very stupid tradition! Have they ever heard of administration where all is noted and can be accessed by the new appointed president. The old one is leaving, and have at his inauguration agreed to sign a document that prohibits him to hide any secrets nor take them with him leaving the office.

Not at all. There is a certain trust between presidents (up until now) and they would often confer with each other to help the greater good. 45 is a straight up traitor and should be held accountable. The world is watching.

6 minutes ago, ozbanglamung said:

Apparently there are 70 odd million American's who do sadly !

 

I expect that a large number of them did not so much vote for Trump as against what they see Biden to be;  Less hostile to gay and women, more intent on protecting the USA from climate impact, more willing to work with world and then there were some who don't like the fact that afro americans are allowed to vote.

 

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Whatever Trump with Know so would Putin

Putin will know before Trump. And Putin knows how to use information.

 

Trump watched fox "news" instead of listening to the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.

9 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Because former presidents are usually a wealth of experience and guidance. If you look at pre Trump era, USA was an example of democracy with smooth transition and strategic teamwork. Kennedy relied on Eisenhower during Bay of Pigs crisis. Obama used 2nd Bush president for Africa outreach. Clinton worked with Bush 1st president for catastrophe relief.  presidents rely on ex presidents because they are the only people who understand the job.

 

Trump was the absentee president who did not get involved in day to day activity and who played more golf than any other president. He did not give courtesy of full briefings to former Presidents. Unlike Trump, Biden will restore briefings to Clinton, Bush and Obama and will use them for special projects around the world. Biden is lucky that he had 8 years to learn the job when he was VP. He will hit the ground running with minimal learning curve. He can count on support of Bush, Obama, Clinton who will do whatever they can to restore dignity of the office. Trump can be trusted with nothing. 

 

Seems to me the bottom line is simple; given trumps track record (well summarized in this thread) why would Pres. Biden ask trump for advice? The discussion would very quickly turn to trump making comments about how smart he is, in other words trump bullshxx. And following any advice he did give would be recipe for disaster.  

I wonder actually why any ex president should still be given this info. After all, they are now private citizens

Two ways this could go:

 

1) Cut him off and remove his clearance

 

2) Feed him false intel and then monitor chatter to see if he has passed it on (or jared has) to hostile foreign powers

 

Biden is too nice to do #2, but put that decision in the hands of Avril Haines (DNI designate) and it could happen. FBI Dir Wray and his team at the Bureau probably also wouldn't mind some payback.

 

Sting!

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Seems to me the bottom line is simple; given trumps track record (well summarized in this thread) why would Pres. Biden ask trump for advice? The discussion would very quickly turn to trump making comments about how smart he is, in other words trump bullshxx. And following any advice he did give would be recipe for disaster.  

Of COURSE Biden won't ask 45 as the soon to be former president is a waste of space. What Joe (an experienced politician) is doing is placing the responsibility on one of his advisors, a smart move. No advisor would ever tell Joe to communicate in any way with a disgraced, twice impeached traitor.

4 minutes ago, Susco said:

I wonder actually why any ex president should still be given this info. After all, they are now private citizens

Read the, oh I don't know, two or three recent posts that have already explained this.