6 Things Former Presidents Can't Do After Leaving Office

Dear Donald Trump,

The country has only one president at a time. Therefore, after Joe Biden is sworn in at 12 noon on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, you Donald J. Trump becomes a private citizen one minute later.

Mr. Trump, even after you leave office, you like other former presidents will continue to be a public figure. Keep in mind though that you are not allowed to make major decisions about the country.

Between 12:01 p.m. EST on January 20th and their death, former presidents are required to follow plenty of rules as private citizens. Here are six of those rules.

1. Can't Violate the Law

Mr. Trump, please keep in mind that you were not above the law as a sitting president, but you did get away with a lot of illegal things. Surely, you are still not above the law. Therefore, you can be prosecuted for any crimes you commit as a private citizen. You will not have a legal team around you. The justice department will not be required to help you legally as it did when you were a sitting president. If you violate the law, then you will be subject to the same legal action as other private citizens.

2. Not Allowed to Sell or Share Classified Information

Former presidents have a wealth of classified information in their heads. That's where it should remain. It is against the law to sell or share any of that information. That would be a big breach of national security for the nation.

Usually, former presidents can be given confidential information about the country and the government after they leave office. Since one of your last acts of service on January 6, put your vice president and members of Congress in danger in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., you might not get classified information. It might not be safe to invite you to attend intelligence briefings and trust you with classified information.

Five people died because of the riots that stormed the building at your insistence.

3. May Not Run for President Again After Two Terms

Former presidents are limited to two terms. Mr. Trump, you served only one term. Hopefully, it will stay that way. You and Jimmy Carter are one-term presidents and you could go back to the White House again unless your second impeachment prohibits it.

Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama are constitutionally prohibited from running for president again because they completed two terms.

4. Not Allowed to Drive on the Open Road

Former presidents aren’t permitted to drive themselves on open roads for safety reasons. However, they can drive on private property. I understand, that you, Mr. Trump, have always had a chauffeur even before you were president. You, like the other former presidents, are required to be driven by Secret Service personnel because they are trained in evasive driving maneuvers.

5. Should Not Open Mail and Packages

The Secret Service inspects all mail and packages for former presidents before it is delivered to them. The screening takes place in a facility at a site located away in order to keep potential threats as far away from former presidents as possible.

6. Not Allowed to Purchase Electronic Devices

Mr. Trump, just because you are leaving the White House, don't for a minute think you can purchase your own electronic devices and get back on social media. As much as you might want to do so, as a former president you just cannot walk into the Apple Store and buy the latest electronics devices.

All of your devices must first be approved by the Secret Service. The Secret Service is authorized to use tracking devices on your electronic devices, including the location of your cell phones.

Final Words

Following some of the above rules might be difficult for you at first, Mr. Trump because you have been accustomed to doing things your own way. However, you will get used to them in time.

Goodbye, Donald J. Trump! I am looking forward to seeing what the history books will say about you and your legacy since the last four years have been unprecedented.

By the way, Mr. Trump, you did lose the election, and it wasn't rigged.