Trump: "it was all declassified" - how declassification usually works

Fresno CA

Description

First, a U.S. president does have uniquely sweeping declassification abilities, though there is a process that involves written documentation and several other steps. It's not the case that a president can declassify documents with just verbal instructions. His instruction to declassify a given document would first be memorialized in a written memo, usually drafted by White House counsel, which he would then sign. Typically, the leadership of the agency or agencies with equities in the document would be consulted and given an opportunity to provide their views on the declassification decision. As the ultimate declassification authority, however, the president can decide to override any objections they raise. Once a final decision is made, and the relevant agency receives the president's signed memo, the physical document in question would be marked — the old classification level would be crossed out — and the document would then be stamped, "Declassified on X date" by the agency in question. Courts may ultimately have to decide how sweeping a sitting president's declassification powers can be. But U.S. officials familiar with the classification process to date point out that, unless and until the documents are stamped "Declassified" by the requisite agency, and following the submission of a written memo signed by the president, they have historically not been considered declassified. (I read where Trump at one time declared that any classified document that left the Oval Office would be considered declassified. As you just read, it doesn't work that way. Trump just thinks his shit doesn't stink and can do whatever he wants to.)