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Former US President Donald Trump has rejected allegations that he leaked sensitive military secrets to an Australian billionaire in a bombshell post on an alt-right social media platform.
Posting to his 6.41 million followers on Truth Social at 4.49am, Mr Trump called the reports by US news outlet ABC News “false and ridiculous”.
In a conversation at the former president’s lavish Florida Mar-a-Lago compound in April, Mr Trump told cardboard industrialist Anthony Pratt that the true number of nuclear weapons carried by US submarines and whether they were undetected was unknown, ABC News reported. How close can the planted Russian boats get? 2021.
The US Justice Department, led by special counsel Jack Smith, is currently investigating Mr Trump for mishandling classified information following his defeat in the 2020 election.
Mr Trump denied those reports and said he was tried by “corrupt prosecutors” to interfere in his 2024 election campaign.
“The ridiculous story today of me talking to a Mar-a-Lago member about American submarines is false and ridiculous, except for the fact that I will often say that we make the best submarines and military equipment anywhere in the world – A very famous fact!” He writes on the post of October 7.
“These fake stories are being perpetrated by corrupt prosecutors trying to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, and based on the polling, where I am 60 points up on the Republican candidates, and 11 points up on Crooked Joe Biden, the people of our country . Not buying it.
“That said, I will always promote the greatness of America and its military equipment.
“The alternative for allies and others would be to buy from Russia, China or elsewhere.
“I love creating jobs in America, which was one of my most successful accomplishments as president!”
According to ABC News, Mr Pratt forwarded Mr Trump’s comments to at least 45 people, including three former Australian prime ministers, six journalists, 11 of his staffers and 10 Australian officials.
Mr. Pratt is the executive chairman of Visi Industries and Pratt Industries in the United States, and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mr Pratt has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
The social media platforms of his US-based business Pratt Industries have also not posted any reaction to the reports.
Joe Hockey, the former ambassador to the US, downplayed Mr Trump’s alleged revelations in a comment to The New York Times.
“If that’s all there was to discuss, we already know all that,” Mr Hockey said.
Timeline of the NED-8491-Ocus submarine agreement “We have had Australians serving with the Americans on American submarines for years, and we share the same technology and the same weapons as the US Navy.”
ABC News also reported that Mr. Pratt has spoken to FBI agents and prosecutors who worked for Mr. Smith, who filed 40 charges against Mr. Trump for alleged misuse of classified information after he left the White House.
The news channel relied on unnamed sources for its reports.
The reported conversation between Mr Trump and Mr Pratt came as the Australian, US and UK governments were locked in secret discussions over the AUKUS treaty, an agreement for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
The Australian Government has been contacted for comment on the reports.
