Politics: Trump’s tirade over nuclear subs report leak

Posting to his 6.41 million followers on Truth Social at 4.49am, Mr Trump called the reports from American news outlet ABC News “false and ridiculous.”

ABC News reported Mr Trump told cardboard industrialist Anthony Pratt the exact number of nuclear warheads carried by US submarines, and how close they could get to Russian boats without detection, in a conversation at the former President’s lavish Florida Mar-a-Lago compound in April 2021.

The US Justice Department, led by special counsel Jack Smith, is currently investigating Mr Trump for allegedly mishandling classified information following his defeat in the 2020 election.

Mr Trump denies the reports and said they had been put out by “corrupt prosecutors” trying to interfere with his 2024 election campaign.

“The ridiculous story put out today about me talking to a Mar-a-Lago member about U.S. Submarines, is false and ridiculous, other than the fact that I will often state that we make the best Submarines and Military Equipment anywhere in the World – a pretty well known fact!” he writes on the October 7 post.

“These fake stories are put out by corrupt prosecutors trying to interfere with the President Election of 2024, and based on the polling, where I am 60 points up on Republican Candidates, and 11 points up on Crooked Joe Biden, the people of our Country aren’t buying it.

“With that being said, I will always promote the Greatness of America – and it’s Military Equipment.

“The alternative would be for Allies, and others, to buy from Russia, China, or elsewhere.

“I like creating jobs in America, which was one of my most successful achievements as President!”

According to ABC News, Mr Pratt relayed Mr Trump’s remarks to at least 45 people, including three former Australian Prime Ministers, six journalists, 11 of his employees and 10 Australian officials.

Mr Pratt is the executive chairman of Visy Industries and Pratt Industries in the United States, and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Mr Pratt has been contacted for comment but is yet to respond.

The social media platforms for his US-based business Pratt Industries has also not posted a response to the reports.

Former ambassador to the US Joe Hockey downplayed Mr Trump’s alleged disclosures in a comment to The New York Times.

“If that’s all that was discussed, we already know all that,” Mr. Hockey said.

“We have had Australians serving with Americans on U.S. submarines for years, and we share the same technology and the same weapons as the U.S. Navy.”

ABC News also reports Mr Pratt has spoken with FBI agents and prosecutors working for Mr Smith, who slapped Mr Trump with 40 charges over his alleged mishandling of classified information after leaving the White House.

The news channel relied on unnamed sources for its report.

The alleged conversation between Mr Trump and Mr Pratt coincided with the time the Australian, US, and UK governments were locked in secret discussions over the AUKUS pact, an agreement for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

The Australian government has been contacted for a response to the reports.