Former President Donald J. Trump will be receive briefings on classified national security matters once he secures the GOP presidential nomination, US intelligence officials say.
The Biden administration intends to share intelligence with Trump, a senior intelligence official told Politico, despite the DOJ having indicted Trump in two federal cases, one alleging that he kept classified documents after leaving the White House, which all presidents do, and another alleging that Trump attempted to overthrow the government while he was the head of that government.
Biden barred Trump from receiving classified intelligence briefings shortly after he took over the White House in 2021, citing that Trump had "erratic" behavior. Sharing classified intelligence related to national security matters is standard practice between current and former US presidents.
While there is no constitutional requirement for sit-down briefings, incumbent administrations have used intelligence agencies to brief candidates from both major political parties on some of the most critical national security issues and this has been standard practice for 72 years.
The briefings typically occur in the late summer, following the national conventions. They are overseen by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and authorized by the White House.
Douglas London, a former CIA case officer, told the outlet that if the Biden administration refuses to share intel with Trump it could backfire on the intelligence community. He said that the decision could "taint them in the eyes of somebody who might very well be their boss again in a few months."
Trump has taken aim at intelligence agencies throughout his time on the campaign trail. He has accused President Biden of weaponizing the Department of Justice against him in an effort to prosecute his top political rival.
A senior US intelligence official told Politico that regaining Trump's trust is among the greatest concerns of intelligence agencies.
According to the official, Trump will be briefed by the intelligence community primarily in the same way that previous presidential candidates have been briefed.