Trump’s Horde of Government Documents

No one seems to know why Trump wanted all those boxes of documents including some containing highly classified material, some of which was of the most sensitive nature. I don’t think he ever imagined that the DOJ would get a warrant and make a surprise search of his Mar-A-Lago palace. For Trump, retaining these documents probably symbolized retaining the presidency, as if he were a king in exile, comforting himself by standing in front of the mirror while wearing his crown. I’d be surprised if it turned out that he sold any vital secrets to Russia or Saudi Arabia, though that possibility can’t ruled out. More likely, he thought of the documents as an asset he controlled that he could liquidate in an emergency. He had possession of them, and they were too valuable to let go.