General Discussion

Happy Hoosier

(9,545 posts)

36. Yes... but....

Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:49 PM

Aug 2022

It's a little bit of a "pics or it didn't happen" kinda thing. Unless there is positive evidence of declassification, the original classification applies. A President cannot reactively declassify a document, and documents cannot be declassified to cover up a crime. Also, an ex-President cannot declassify anything. And Trump saying "I declassified it" is unlikely to hold up to scrutiny. In any case where Trump claims he declassified something but has no documentation of it, the status of the document is at the discretion of the sitting President.

And if Trump DID declassify something very sensitive, that document would be subject to a FOIA request.

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Can a President.. or more importantly a former President declassify any document?? [View all] Peacetrain Aug 2022 OP

A former President can't do anything...people need to brush up on their civics. brooklynite Aug 2022 #1

That is what we were discussing here.. Trump is a private citizen and Peacetrain Aug 2022 #4

No, if TFG gave a foreign power classified documents, it is not treason Darwins_Retriever Aug 2022 #34

And some need to brush up on their politeness MLAA Aug 2022 #6

Current, yes... Former, no Ohio Joe Aug 2022 #2

yep.. Peacetrain Aug 2022 #11

He can't retroactively declassify them. Claustrum Aug 2022 #3

This!!! Peacetrain Aug 2022 #7

A President has the power to classify or declassify at will Abnredleg Aug 2022 #5

not as a former president.. he is a private citizen Peacetrain Aug 2022 #8

I was referring to the President Abnredleg Aug 2022 #12

Yep.. and you know I am thinking he might try that tactic Peacetrain Aug 2022 #16

But that doesn't affect the Archives...everything is required to store there regardless if a Demsrule86 Aug 2022 #15

Correct /NT Abnredleg Aug 2022 #17

I did not know that!! learned something new today Peacetrain Aug 2022 #23

This reality is terrifying and a window moonscape Aug 2022 #31

A sitting President can. A former President cannot. MineralMan Aug 2022 #9

But that's what TFG did while in office. Claustrum Aug 2022 #19

Yes, he did. He was not a careful nor thoughtful President. MineralMan Aug 2022 #24

A president can declassify, but there is a procedure- viva la Aug 2022 #10

You mean he can't just wave his tiny hands over them and yell, "Declassificorum!"? tanyev Aug 2022 #35

Important to remember that no matter whether or when they were declassified zuul Aug 2022 #13

+1000 Peacetrain Aug 2022 #18

And on top of that, any normal human being, let alone an ex-president, Claustrum Aug 2022 #22

Any normal pres wouldn't pack up moonscape Aug 2022 #32

As of noon January 20, 2021 he was illegally in possession of classified material. Can't believe he Walleye Aug 2022 #14

As someone pointed out in the thread.. if he had declassified such info Peacetrain Aug 2022 #21

Yes. That is an excellent point. I don't think Trump has claimed he declassified them Walleye Aug 2022 #26

Just as importantly.... getagrip_already Aug 2022 #20

Yes, Indeed. Every document I created while in the USAF MineralMan Aug 2022 #28

I take my cue from Cheryl Rofer gratuitous Aug 2022 #25

There is so much crap the Congress needs to fix... kentuck Aug 2022 #27

I think a president needs to have the power to declassify things as he/she likes. Claustrum Aug 2022 #29

Well, a former president certainly can't. brush Aug 2022 #30

Declassification doesn't mean he then owns the documents. Cracklin Charlie Aug 2022 #33

Yes... but.... Happy Hoosier Aug 2022 #36

He didn't declassify them because they had more value as classified Merlot Aug 2022 #37