Former United States President Donald Trump allegedly discussed details of the US’s nuclear submarines with an Australian businessman, three months after leaving office.
According to ABC News, Trump allegedly discussed sensitive military information with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who is also a member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. FBI and prosecutors investigating Trump for allegedly hoarding classified documents after leaving office reportedly interviewed Pratt twice regarding this conversation.
ABC News reported that Pratt, trying to have a conversation with the former president, told Trump that Australia must start procuring submarines from the US. Trump, who got excited hearing this “revealed” to Pratt the specialities of US-manufactured submarines. Trump reportedly told Pratt the exact number of nuclear warheads these submarines regularly carry and how close they could get to Russian submarines without being detected.
According to the report, a former staff at the resort heard Pratt relaying the information over to another person soon after meeting Trump. “In emails and conversations after meeting with Trump, Pratt 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,” ABC News reported.
Pratt claimed that he shared information regarding the meeting with others, especially with Australian officials to validate how he was advocating Australia’s interests with the United States. According to reports, few Australian individuals with whom Pratt shared the information were involved in discussions with the Biden administration for procuring three nuclear submarines. Earlier this year, Australia reached an agreement with the US to procure three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.