lol. One for theconspiracy theorists amongst us: People seem to have missed it

[redgunamo]

but back in the Summer, it was discovered in (to be fair, extremely well-buried) court documents that President Trump actually had an active security clearance for files pertaining to national security, specifically nuclear armaments. In fact, the same classified documents he is accused of having stolen and retained, hidden in his bathroom at his golf course in Florida, on leaving the White House.

The Yankee Department Of Energy appears to have missed it too as they have only just now belatedly suggested that this clearance probably ought to be revoked. You know, now that DJT is actually under criminal investigation regarding his illegal and traitorous retention of said papers. lol.

Joking aside, however, the REAL prize question is: Why would "President" Trump have such a clearance in the first place? Presidents don't get them; they don't need them as the whole security apparatus is created for, and maintained by, the president, in any case.

Answer: He actually got the security clearance BEFORE he was elected and he's been working with, or "snitching" for, if you prefer, the secret services the whole time and all the spying-for Putin accusations was just a convenient cover-story that was cooked up and that folk have been all too ready to believe.

He did say he caught them all. Maybe he did.

[Peter]

but back in the Summer, it was discovered in (to be fair, extremely well-buried) court documents that President Trump actually had an active security clearance for files pertaining to national security, specifically nuclear armaments. In fact, the same classified documents he is accused of having stolen and retained, hidden in his bathroom at his golf course in Florida, on leaving the White House.

The Yankee Department Of Energy appears to have missed it too as they have only just now belatedly suggested that this clearance probably ought to be revoked. You know, now that DJT is actually under criminal investigation regarding his illegal and traitorous retention of said papers. lol.

Joking aside, however, the REAL prize question is: Why would "President" Trump have such a clearance in the first place? Presidents don't get them; they don't need them as the whole security apparatus is created for, and maintained by, the president, in any case.

Answer: He actually got the security clearance BEFORE he was elected and he's been working with, or "snitching" for, if you prefer, the secret services the whole time and all the spying-for Putin accusations was just a convenient cover-story that was cooked up and that folk have been all too ready to believe.

He did say he caught them all. Maybe he did.

Hang on... what security clearance does a President not have, and how is that possible?

[redgunamo]

Obviously! He is in charge. As the nation's chief law enforcement official, all business concerning the law and the security of the nation stem from him.

Though oddly enough, he is NOT the highest ranking member (in security terms) of the governmental hierarchy. It's the difference between a Jim Hacker and a Sir Humphrey Appleby; whereas Hacker is merely First Minister to the Crown, Appleby is Secretary to The Cabinet, "Secretary" meaning "one who is trusted with ALL the secrets".

Civilised nations don't talk about this sort of thing, of course; only in fiction. But the Americans are nice because they need everything spelled out; POTUS is just below halfway down the security clearance organisational rankings: Majestic at the top, Confidential and Restricted at the bottom, with each ranking divided into various sub-rankings on a need-to-know basis.

Hang on... what security clearance does a President not have, and how is that possible?

[Peter]

Obviously! He is in charge. As the nation's chief law enforcement official, all business concerning the law and the security of the nation stem from him.

Though oddly enough, he is NOT the highest ranking member (in security terms) of the governmental hierarchy. It's the difference between a Jim Hacker and a Sir Humphrey Appleby; whereas Hacker is merely First Minister to the Crown, Appleby is Secretary to The Cabinet, "Secretary" meaning "one who is trusted with ALL the secrets".

Civilised nations don't talk about this sort of thing, of course; only in fiction. But the Americans are nice because they need everything spelled out; POTUS is just below halfway down the security clearance organisational rankings: Majestic at the top, Confidential and Restricted at the bottom, with each ranking divided into various sub-rankings on a need-to-know basis.

I feared that a direct question wouldn't provoke a direct answer

[PSRB]

Obviously! He is in charge. As the nation's chief law enforcement official, all business concerning the law and the security of the nation stem from him.

Though oddly enough, he is NOT the highest ranking member (in security terms) of the governmental hierarchy. It's the difference between a Jim Hacker and a Sir Humphrey Appleby; whereas Hacker is merely First Minister to the Crown, Appleby is Secretary to The Cabinet, "Secretary" meaning "one who is trusted with ALL the secrets".

Civilised nations don't talk about this sort of thing, of course; only in fiction. But the Americans are nice because they need everything spelled out; POTUS is just below halfway down the security clearance organisational rankings: Majestic at the top, Confidential and Restricted at the bottom, with each ranking divided into various sub-rankings on a need-to-know basis.

Plausible deniability, innit

[redgunamo]

Right. Sometimes you need the boss NOT to know.

Plausible deniability, innit

[Peter]

Right. Sometimes you need the boss NOT to know.

He needs to know, he just needs to not know officially.

[redgunamo]

Yes. That's not easy with a gasbag like the Donald in complete charge of secrets and security though; he cannot help but brag. Seems to work for him though as it means no-one takes him quite seriously, until it's too late.

This important titbit was completely missed by everyone too, including the reporters who did the interview!

https://time.com/donald-trump-after-hours/

They were too busy sneering, I suppose. “We found gold behind the walls, which I always knew." He meant hidden microphones and cameras; basically the place had been "illegally" bugged.

He needs to know, he just needs to not know officially.