Trump will soon be briefed on top secret information and officials worry he'll blab


Republican and Democratic presidential nominees receive a routine pre-election intelligence briefing once they have been officially nominated by their parties. While the briefing does not cover the most sensitive government secrets, it does involve the candidate being brought up to speed on information that is classified as Top Secret — information that eight senior security officials expressed concern Trump wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut about.
"I would be very concerned with Mr. Trump's ability to know what he can and can't discuss," Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told Reuters.
"People are very nervous," a senior U.S. security official who asked not to be named also said. Another anonymous official said that intelligence and security officials are trying to figure out who on Trump's team is "trustworthy," pointing out that "we've never had a situation like this before. Ever."
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 officials confirmed that both Trump and the Democratic nominee will get identical briefings to avoid favoritism or bias, but one suggested that Hillary Clinton would have an advantage in such a situation because her experience in foreign policy will lead her to ask more probing questions than newcomer Trump.
But a spokesman for the Republican National Committee said that the officials' concern is misguided. "The only candidate who has proven incapable of handling sensitive information is Hillary Clinton. If there is anyone they should be worried about, it is [her]," spokesman Michael Short told Reuters.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats