Trump lawsuit launched

[IndigoErth]

“He can just say, ‘I decide that this should be declassified,’ and it’s declassified,” McClanahan said.

But guaranteed that actually has to be communicated TO other people, those who see to it that those documents are actually changed in status within the record keeping, not him just thinking it to himself, no one else involved to see to it after he gives that 'order,' and that's somehow enough. If anyone thinks that is okay then they have no respect for this nation.

Though it remains to be seen that they were actually declassified at all. Because that photo from Mar-a-lago of a bunch of spread out documents still covered with the words "top secret" and others blanked out in the image say otherwise.

However, presidents generally follow an informal protocol when declassifying documents, Richard Immerman, a historian and professor at Temple University, told VERIFY.

First, the president will consult all departments and agencies that have an interest in a classified document. Those departments or agencies then provide their assessment as to whether the document should stay classified for national security reasons. If there is a dispute among the agencies, they debate, but the president ultimately makes the decision on declassification, Immerman explained.

When documents are declassified, they are reviewed line-by-line. In many cases, certain words, sentences and paragraphs remain redacted, even if the document is declassified, Immerman said.

Yeah, I know he isn't one who is going to act professionally about anything, but it's certainly why the nation shouldn't be run by a reality show host.

https://www.archives.gov/isoo/faqs

How can I identify Classified National Security Information?

There should be a classification marking on the top and bottom of every page of the document. Very old documents may have the markings only on the top of the first page. In more recent documents, individual paragraphs may also be marked with markings like “(S)” for Secret or “(C)” for Confidential.

The document should not be marked as declassified. A declassification marking should look like an official stamp that indicates the name and office of the person who authorized the declassification action. A copy of a declassified document from the National Archives and Records Administration should include a marking that includes a project number starting with “NND” or “NW.”

Are the visible Top Secret documents in the image marked as declassified? Don't look like it to me.