‘A horror movie’: Analysts react to evidence emerging from Donald Trump’s federal indictment

The indictment, which was released the previous day, focuses on allegations of mishandling classified materials, posing a more severe legal threat than the personal, political, and commercial misconduct accusations Mr Trump has faced in the past.

The indictment sets the stage for an unprecedented White House race, as President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice pursues the prosecution of the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

The findings have trapped Mr Trump in a corner, with images revealing the former President had potentially exposed the US to a wide rage of security risks.

Norman Eisen, a former US ambassador, weighed in on the documents, describing the debacle as a “horror movie for national security”.

The findings showed classified documents Mr Trump had stored in his boxes included information regarding defence and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; US nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

“The unauthorised disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the US, foreign relations and the safety of the US military, human sources and the viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods,” the report read.

Mr Eisen, who was the US envoy to the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2014, said they were “perhaps one of the most damning statements ever made about an American president”.

Mr Trump, who vehemently denies the charges — accusing them of being politically motivated — took the opportunity to speak at two state Republican conventions in Georgia and North Carolina. He used these platforms to criticise the FBI and accuse federal prosecutors of unjustly targeting him.

Paragraph 25 showed pictures of Mr Trump’s boxes sitting on stage in a ballroom where public events took place.

“This is one step removed from leaving them on stage at a Broadway theatre,” Mr Eisen added, describing the image as “crazy”.

Mr Trump had also discussed highly classified information about a “plan of attack” prepared for him by the Department of Defence with four people – a writer, publisher and two members of this staff – who did not possess security clearance. The recorded discussion took place in 2021 after Mr Trump had left office.

He reportedly told the individuals the plan was indeed “highly confidential” and that he could have declassified it if he was still President.

Another finding showed Mr Trump had showed a representative of his political action committee a highly classified map showing US military information, noting the individual “should not get too close” as it was top secret.

In his first public address since being indicted on multiple federal charges, Mr Trump addressed his supporters, marking a significant turning point in the 2024 presidential election.

During his speech in Columbus, Georgia, Mr Trump criticised Mr Biden, the Department of Justice, and what he referred to as a “fake indictment.”

He asserted that the legal pursuit against him was solely driven by his intention to run for a second term in the White House. Mr Trump claimed: “If I wasn‘t, there would be no witch hunt, there would be no indictment,” addressing his supporters.

These events took place just days before Mr Trump‘s scheduled appearance in federal court in Miami to address the explosive charges of wilfully retaining classified defence information, conspiring to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents, and making false statements.

These charges, brought by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison each.

In response to the indictment, Mr Trump has taken to his Truth Social platform and released a video statement, denouncing Mr Smith as “deranged” and a “Trump hater.”

He framed the prosecution as election interference orchestrated by Mr Biden and his campaign, citing his lead in the polls against the current president.

Many Republicans, including some of Mr Trump’s rivals for the party nomination, have rallied behind him, amplifying his sense of outrage.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, who has had a tumultuous relationship with Mr Trump, referred to the indictment as a “dark day” for the United States and expressed his support for the former president, emphasising his belief in the rule of law.

The indictment continues.