Trump’s illness raises national security concerns as the Pentagon assures the public

But while defense officials have sought to allay fears of a national security crisis, the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s health poses a clear challenge to allegations that he is protecting the U.S. from foreign and domestic threats.

Like the Pentagon, many current and former national security officials have noted that there are a number of mechanisms in place to address instability caused by damage or injury to the president.

According to John Gaines, a former Pentagon speaker and author of a book on the National Security Council, the president’s own actions on the National Security Council may increase, but at the same time, Trump’s illness “only makes the already chaotic system more chaotic.” Dangers of “complete collapse in government”.

Gains, who works under the Obama administration, told CNN that it is important to remember that most modern American national security structures and processes were created because of the instability caused by weak or injured presidents. “Because of the way Trump runs the government, his illness, Roosevelt’s death, and Reagan’s inability to do so put him at risk of a complete breakdown in government decision-making.

How bad is it?

Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy also acknowledged that “there are security implications anytime the president falls ill,” but acknowledged that the urgency of these concerns about whether Trump’s health is deteriorating has been predicted.

Murphy told CNN’s Kylie Atwood at the Truman Center National Policy Conference that he told White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that “the president is not incompetent, he has mild symptoms, that he is able to continue his work. Head of state.”

“I’m glad Mark Meadows came out and made it clear this morning, our allies and our opponents need to know and understand that, because we still have a post-list that is investigating our weaknesses.”

That view was echoed by some former national security officials who called for caution when assessing the current level of concern but warned that the threatening landscape could change depending on Trump’s position.

“As long as the president has mild to moderate symptoms right now, I don’t expect any major change in how our national security apparatus operates or in the actions of our opponents,” said Eric Brewer, a former NSC official between Trump and Obama. Administration.

However, CNN national security analyst and former NSC official during the Obama administration, Samantha Vinograd, insisted that the situation was a “red moment” for the US government at multiple levels.

That fear will probably only be exacerbated by the late Friday night news that Trump will be hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and stay there “for the next few days,” and will probably only raise more concerns about whether the president’s health is serious national. Security risk.

As of Friday evening, when the president was being escorted to Walter Reed, several high-ranking officials, including a cabinet official and two senior Republicans, had not been briefed on the situation, officials told CNN.

But in the meantime, the U.S. No. National security officials continue to keep an eye on foreign rivals who could exploit the current state of turmoil due to Trump’s positive diagnosis.

Intelligence agencies on alert

For the intelligence community, officials and analysts will now see whether foreign enemies see the White House’s uncertainty as an opportunity.

“We will keep a close eye on the protesters to see how they respond and what they can do in the meantime,” a U.S. official said.

This would include Russians, Chinese, Iranians and terrorist groups, said Norman Raoul, a former senior intelligence official. “The analysis and multi-source collection will cover decision-making, military activities, as well as personnel and resource movements that will facilitate operations against us.”

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence – which leads the 16 agencies of the community – can provide specific guidance to enhance the collection through a tool called “collection load message” with specific requirements or questions about the opponent.

James Clapper, who heads ODNI under President Barack Obama, told CNN that he would tell heads of various agencies to “lean forward in Foxhall for additional warnings for any provocation.”

“This has become a major mess for national security apparatus,” Klapre said, adding that those “very potential” opponents would do nothing for now.

Brewer, a former intelligence official, echoed the sentiment, telling CNN that he believes Russia will try to increase conspiracy and misinformation about hostile circumstances, but that such action is not outside the scope of what it is currently doing.

“I’m sure conspiracy theorists will go wild with all sorts of claims that will serve as a useful pasture for Russia and others to try and play and exploit. But I will not put it in the category of ‘new,'” he said.

“I am convinced that the Russians are ready to do anything and everything for the re-election of this president,” Murphy said.

“And knowing that it will be separated from the general campaign at least in the next two weeks, it could mean that it will carry out Russian intervention operations like the giant multilayered octopus, and I think we all need to be.” , And we all need to take steps to try to get the American people to understand what real information is being promoted by countries like Russia.

The story has been updated with additional developments on Friday.