Ex-Trump aide claims former president could have declassified documents over social media. Here's what the courts say about that.

During his time in the White House, Donald Trump had the power to declassify documents through social media, according to a former aide.

He argued that the burden of proof was on the authorities to prove that the former president didn't declassify the documents.

Past sworn statements from Trump's staff and clear court rulings show that the claims about Trump's power are not true.

In October of 2020 President Trump put out for the world to see a sweeping declassification order. He did it using social media.

—Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2022

The lawyer who helped Trump fight the Russia probe was referring to a October 2020 statement by the president. Trump wrote that he had given the go-ahead to declassify any and all documents related to the Russia hoax. The Hillary Clinton email scandal was the same. There were no redactions.

Trump declassified "whole sets of documents" in December 2020 and January 2021. He said that the former president didn't have to follow any protocols to declassify the documents.

The Justice Department is looking into whether Trump broke federal law by keeping government documents at his Florida residence.

The Mar-a-Lago documents were declassified because of Trump's "standing order" as president, according to the president. Some of his former top officials have never heard of such an order.

What the court has said about declassification

According to an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on August 14, Trump could "literally stand over a set of documents and say: 'These are now declassified'."

Federal court rulings show otherwise.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal stated in July 2020 that "declassification, even by the President, must follow established procedures." The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal stated in July 2020 that "de classification, even by the President, must follow established procedures."

The former president's then Chief of Staff MarkMeadows submitted a sworn declaration stating that Trump had indicated that his declarations on social media were not self-executing de classification orders.

If the proper procedures weren't followed, a press release from the White House wouldn't suffice as a presidential declassification order.

Leon Panetta, the former CIA director and defense secretary, is one of several experts who have rejected Trump's claims.

There is no indication that this president took a formal step to declassify anything. Panetta told CNN that right now, this is not true.

During his time as Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson called Trump's claim laughable.

The speed limit on the New Jersey Turnpike is determined by the governor at any given time, according to Johnson.