Once the Republican Party officially nominates Donald Trump for president for a third time, U.S. intelligence officials intend to brief Trump on national security matters despite the risk of him exposing confidential information.

Trump has already faced legal trouble when his Mar-A-Lago home was found to contain thousands of classified documents, which were illegally stored there, during an FBI raid. The Biden administration says they will share intelligence with Trump regardless of the outcome of his Florida trial.

Briefings are not legally required but have been a tradition since 1952. Candidates of both major political parties are briefed on some of the biggest threats to the United States. Candidates may be briefed on several meetings, though usually only one.

Some risks associated with Trump include his close ties to foreign leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump has disclosed confidential information about an Israeli intelligence operation to senior Russian officials.

Biden has previously barred Trump from intelligence briefings, which are usually offered to former presidents. Biden claimed Trump’s erratic behavior posed a risk and that he did not need the information.

Trump is currently facing trial in a Palm Beach, Florida, federal court in the documents case. The former president claims that he enjoys “the absolute right” to keep the documents – an idea the government rejects.

A congressional investigation recently found that Trump received $7.8 million from foreign governments while he was in the White House.

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Ann Hoang

Article by Ann Hoang

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