White House official reveals succession protocols for Trump

A senior White House official, Sebastian Gorka, said that President Donald Trump has left specific instructions for Vice President JD Vance in the event he is unable to complete his second term.

Speaking on the podcast “Pod Force One” in an interview with Miranda Devine of The New York Post, Gorka said there are established protocols governing presidential succession, though he declined to disclose details.

“There is a letter in the drawer in the Resolute Desk that is addressed to the vice president, should something happen to him,” Gorka said.

“We have protocols, trust me. Not ones I can discuss, but we have protocols.”

Gorka, who has overseen counterterrorism strategy in the Trump administration, also addressed concerns about potential threats to the president, including from foreign adversaries such as China. He suggested that Trump’s policies have positioned him as a major obstacle to Beijing.

“He alone stands between them and world domination, so they have every reason in the world to take him out,” the counterterrorism chief said. “Now, they may not do it there, obviously, but as someone said to me, they could just put something in the air that makes him sick 30 days later.”

Despite outlining hypothetical risks, Gorka emphasised that he does not believe an attack is likely and expressed confidence in the president’s safety.

“I have no fear at all of them doing something,” he said, adding that “the president, in my estimation, is very safe.”

Gorka also described Trump as a highly influential global figure whose recognition is sought by other world leaders.

“Everybody wants recognition from this man,” Gorka continued. “This is the most powerful individual we have seen since the likes of Eisenhower. This is a man everybody wants to be at the table with him, to have the State dinner, to have the recognition.”

“The idea that you do something that undermines your recognition goes against what they wish to have,” he added.

By Tamilla Hasanova