# Trump and a POTUS security clearance. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 5, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005 "2016-03-05T16:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/21 "2016-06-12T00:01:01Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Suppose he offers to run the government’s computing on his own servers ? Then it’s _both_ of their secrets. So Trump wants to be just like Hillary? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/22 "2016-06-12T00:01:03Z")
Here’s another of The Donald’s [great business strategies:](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/nyregion/donald-trump-atlantic-city.html?_r=0) Strip the value out of a business, while letting it tank, and letting bondholders, shareholders and businesses all lose money to the tune of $1.5 billion. While making millions for The Donald. > [@](#): > > During a decade when other casinos (in Atlantic City) thrived, Mr. Trump’s lagged, posting huge losses year after year. Stock and bondholders lost more than $1.5 billion. All the while, Mr. Trump received copious amounts for himself, with the help of a compliant board. In one instance, The Times found, Mr. Trump pulled more than $1 million from his failing public company, describing the transaction in securities filings in ways that may have been illegal, according to legal experts. > [@](#): > > “He put a number of local contractors and suppliers out of business when he didn’t pay them,” said Steven P. Perskie, who was New Jersey’s top casino regulator in the early 1990s. “So when he left Atlantic City, it wasn’t, ‘Sorry to see you go.’ It was, ‘How fast can you get the hell out of here?’” > [@](#): > > “Trump crawled his way to the top on the back of little guys, one of them being my father,” said Ms. Rosser, who runs Triad today. “He had no regard for thousands of men and women who worked on those projects. He says he’ll make America great again, but his past shows the complete opposite of that.” ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/23 "2016-06-12T00:28:34Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Here’s another of The Donald’s [great business strategies:](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/nyregion/donald-trump-atlantic-city.html?_r=0) > > Strip the value out of a business, while letting it tank, and letting bondholders, shareholders and businesses all lose money to the tune of $1.5 billion. While making millions for The Donald. So the Donald’s idols must be Gov. Lepage and Eddie Lampert. Mr. Lampert did the exact same thing to Sears, Kmart, and Land’s End. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/24 "2016-06-12T01:33:41Z")
One positive thing about Trump getting clearance is that he will \*demand \*that “the files” regarding 9/11, JFK, Area 51, RFK, J Edgar Hoover, and more will be opened! 😃 Of course, we will be reading these files by the light of nuclear fire, so there will be that problem… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/25 "2016-06-12T01:39:20Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > What are the differences between a nuclear attack and a nuclear war? Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks. If Japan had responded in kind, then we would have had a nuclear war. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/26 "2016-06-12T02:10:28Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > I don’t think President Trump (:eek:) could be denied a security clearance. > > We’ve talked about this sort of isssue before (albeit not specifically with regard to Trump, but more generally): > > [Are there any government activities so secret that even the president doesn’t know about them?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=608961) > [Does the President still operate on Need To Know?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=621214) > [What if the president elect were ineligable for a security clearance?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=699943) Indeed, just two weeks ago: [Could a US President be denied security clearance?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=794141&highlight=secret) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/27 "2016-06-12T02:31:02Z")
I’m not so much worried about Trump here. I’m worried about Trump here and Putin _there._ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/28 "2016-06-12T12:23:02Z")
Trump is the most enthusiastic of any recent candidate for doing the things that lead to lengthy military entanglements. The fact that he thinks that when he does them, they won’t lead to entanglements makes him more dangerous, not less. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/29 "2016-06-12T13:35:55Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks. If Japan had responded in kind, then we would have had a nuclear war. It’s the difference between a fight and a beating. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/30 "2016-06-12T16:30:35Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > It’s the difference between a fight and a beating. It’s the difference between a sniper shot and a machete fight. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/31 "2016-06-12T16:58:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > One positive thing about Drumpf getting clearance is that he will \*demand \*that “the files” regarding 9/11, JFK, Area 51, RFK, J Edgar Hoover, and more will be opened! Nah…not unless he thinks his name might be mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/32 "2016-06-12T19:23:03Z")
Superdude, You need to disable that ‘drumpf’ extension or pay more attention to what you quote. It’s altered your quote of JohnT in such a way as to be potentially moderated. I’ll let it go with a note because I haven’t seen you have a history of this sort of thing. But please be aware of the potential trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/33 "2016-06-12T19:30:50Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Superdude, > > You need to disable that ‘drumpf’ extension or pay more attention to what you quote. It’s altered your quote of JohnT in such a way as to be potentially moderated. > > I’ll let it go with a note because I haven’t seen you have a history of this sort of thing. But please be aware of the potential trouble. Point taken, **JC**. I forgot I had it on. I’ll disable it. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/34 "2016-06-13T01:36:20Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > Still, the most reasonable position is that a candidate who _at least says_ he’s against military entanglements is less likely to launch WW3 than a candidate who _doesn’t_ say that. Not if the candidate is a petulant toddler disguised as an adult with a bucket of orange paint and a dead squirrel. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/35 "2016-06-13T04:06:23Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Not if the candidate is a petulant toddler disguised as an adult with a bucket of orange paint and a dead squirrel. Ah, I see you’re using the “bucket of orange paint and a dead squirrel” extension… ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/36 "2016-06-29T14:33:52Z")
[Slate’s Trumpcast podcast interviewed a former CIA who did classified security briefings for presidential candidates (GW Bush, John Kerry, and also VP candidate John Edwards) in the past.](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/trumpcast/2016/05/trusting_donald_trump_with_classified_information.html) Gives some insight on how the process of briefing candidates works. Interview begins around 04:05. ---
**Author:** ![bobruisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f08c70/32.png) [@bobruisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobruisk)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/37 "2016-07-26T13:14:56Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Let’s assume Trump somehow got elected. How far must the government go in sharing state secrets with him? Can sensitive information/secrets he has no need to know be withheld? > > I dread the thought of him having access to the nuclear launch procedures, but I suspect he’d get them. I’m not quite sure I understand OP’s concerns. In the past few months Republicans repeatedly told us, and the FBI later confirmed, that Mrs. Clinton was “extremely careless in her handling of very sensitive, highly classified information". The FBI also told us that it believes the powers, hostile to the US, possibly gained access to her email account. Mrs. Clinton also subsequently lied to FBI about her usage of personal email server. Since, of course, handling classified and sensitive information is a daily occurrence in the duties of the President, this should disqualify Mrs. Clinton from running for, yet alone occupying, The White House. Yet, you’re concerned about Mr. Trump’s handling of sensitive information? Do you have any evidence that he mishandled any classified information so far? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/38 "2016-07-26T19:28:04Z")
> [@bobruisk](#): > > I’m not quite sure I understand OP’s concerns. In the past few months Republicans repeatedly told us, and the FBI later confirmed, that Mrs. Clinton was “extremely careless in her handling of very sensitive, highly classified information". The FBI also told us that it believes the powers, hostile to the US, possibly gained access to her email account. Mrs. Clinton also subsequently lied to FBI about her usage of personal email server. Since, of course, handling classified and sensitive information is a daily occurrence in the duties of the President, this should disqualify Mrs. Clinton from running for, yet alone occupying, The White House. > Yet, you’re concerned about Mr. Trump’s handling of sensitive information? Do you have any evidence that he mishandled any classified information so far? Time to update your information file. HRC DID NOT lie to the FBI, as Director Comey made plain in Congress. It seems there’s currently some kind of request for an FBI investigation by the Trey Gowdys into whether she lied to the Congressional committee in order to continue the witch hunt. You’re just parroting attack lines which are demonstrably false. Move along, nothing to see here. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005/39 "2016-07-26T20:16:15Z")
Speaking to the OP, rather than to the obvious distraction of certain posters, I have to say that I don’t think that security clearance should be given to a man who is indebted to Russian banks, and who has said that the US should abrogate it’s treaty obligations with NATO. Trump is essentially conducting Russia’s foreign policy for them at this point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-potus-security-clearance/748005.md?page=1)