$554M of Debt Makes You a Security Risk
Imagine you’re applying for a job that requires access to sensitive, classified information. One of the first things you’ll go through is an extensive background check, including a thorough review of your financial history. This is because financial instability can make someone a target for blackmail or manipulation, which is a major security concern. So, if a regular person applied for a security clearance while owing $554 million, like former President Donald Trump reportedly does, they'd be immediately flagged as a security risk and denied clearance.
Financial Vulnerability Equals National Vulnerability
Carrying that level of debt is more than just a personal financial problem—it’s a potential national security crisis. People in deep financial trouble can be desperate, which makes them more susceptible to outside influence. If foreign adversaries, powerful corporations, or corrupt actors know someone is financially compromised, they can exploit that vulnerability. This is why security clearances involve rigorous financial scrutiny.
The U.S. government doesn’t take chances with individuals who might be under pressure to make up for their massive debts. Debt of any size can make someone vulnerable to coercion. For instance, if a cleared worker amasses substantial credit card debt or defaults on a mortgage, their clearance may be revoked. In fact, regular cleared workers who end up with debts significantly smaller than $554M often lose their security clearances because the risk is just too high.
So, Why Does This Matter for the President?
If a regular person with just a fraction of Trump’s debt would never pass a security clearance check, why should the standards be any different for the President of the United States?
The Presidency is perhaps the most sensitive and high-stakes job in the world, with access to nuclear codes, global defense strategies, and intelligence briefings. Allowing someone with such enormous financial obligations to handle the nation’s most classified and dangerous information would be considered reckless for anyone else. Why should a different standard apply to the person sitting in the Oval Office?
The Unspoken Danger
A person with $554M in debt isn’t just vulnerable—they’re a national security liability. That kind of financial entanglement can make someone beholden to the wrong people. Whether it's foreign lenders, powerful private entities, or anyone with a financial stake, the risk is too high. It’s not about partisan politics; it’s about safeguarding the nation's interests.
Letting someone with this level of financial baggage have access to the nuclear codes and the highest levels of government intelligence is a dangerous gamble. The security clearance process exists to protect against precisely this kind of risk, but for some reason, the same standard isn’t applied to the most powerful office in the world.
The Standard Should Be the Same
If security policies apply to regular secured jobs, why should it be different for the President? The financial standards set for people working in sensitive roles exist to protect national security. Owing $554M would disqualify the average person from ever holding such a position. That reality should hold true for anyone, including former and future Presidents.
After all, why should we trust the least secure person in America with our most sensitive secrets?