CNN obtains audio of Trump admitting document is 'still a secret' and he can't declassify

CNN obtained and published audio from the July 2021 Bedminster meeting cited in the federal indictment, in which Trump can be heard showing what he describes as a classified Pentagon document about attacking Iran to people without security clearances. On the recording, Trump says 'See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret.' The audio demolished Trump's claim that he had declassified everything and showed him knowingly retaining and sharing classified national defense information.

“See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret.” — Audio recording from July 2021 Bedminster meeting, released by CNN June 26, 2023