Trump reportedly shared US nuclear submarine secrets with loose-lipped Australian billionaire

Special counsel Jack Smith is aware of Trump's alleged disclosure to a foreigner who belonged to the Mar-a-Lago club

Donald Trump and Anthony Pratt
Donald Trump and Anthony Pratt, the Australian billionaire
(Image credit: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images))

A few months after he left office, former President Donald Trump shared at least two sensitive, critical pieces of information about U.S. nuclear submarines with an Australian billionaire and Mar-a-Lago member, ABC News reported Thursday night, citing people familiar with the matter. The billionaire, cardboard magnate Anthony Pratt, then reportedly "described Trump's remarks to at least 45 others, including six journalists, 11 of his company's employees, 10 Australian officials and three former Australian prime ministers."

Trump's disclosures about the nautical leg of America's nuclear triad — the number of nuclear warheads the submarines routinely carry and exactly how close they can get to Russian subs without being detected — "potentially endangered the U.S. nuclear fleet," The New York Times reported, citing two sources who confirmed ABC News' scoop.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.