Nuclear secrets found at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
Recovered material could deepen national security implications of former president’s actions
The FBI has recovered a document describing a foreign government’s nuclear capabilities during its search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, according to a report in the US.
Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post said that as well as details of the foreign power’s nuclear weapons capabilities, information about the unnamed nation’s conventional military defences was also discovered at the Florida resort.
The US newspaper said that some of the 11,000-plus documents seized from Trump’s estate are typically closely guarded and have “a designated control officer” to monitor their location. Even intelligence bosses and national security personnel would not have known about the details found in some of the documents. “Only the president, some members of his Cabinet or a near-Cabinet-level official could authorise other government officials to know details of these special-access programs,” a source said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The latest revelation has prompted alarm. “Trump stored another country’s nuclear secrets at f***ing Mar-a-Lago,” said Rolling Stone, while former US department of defense special counsel Ryan Goodman tweeted that “many people are behind bars for far, far less”.
The former US president is already under investigation by the justice department for his unauthorised removal of highly sensitive government records from the White House and for allegedly storing them improperly at Mar-a-Lago.
Following the FBI raid, Trump said the move was “not necessary or appropriate”, adding: “These are dark times for our nation.”
The former US president has insisted that he declassified the documents before leaving the White House last year and described the Department of Justice investigation as part of a politically motivated witch-hunt against him.
As rumours swirl that Trump is planning to run again for the presidency, the controversy may not have dented his popularity, according to The Times, as some polls have shown his support rising among Republican voters following the FBI search.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why are Republicans trying to change Nebraska's Electoral College vote?
Today's Big Question It's a chance for Donald Trump to block Joe Biden's path to re-election
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
To win the election, Trump is changing how elections are run
Under The Radar While the former president campaigns for a second term in office, he and his team have quietly been working to tilt the nation's electoral rules in his favor.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'What a difference a judge makes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published