Overview
- Sebastian Gorka, the White House senior director for counterterrorism, disclosed Wednesday on the New York Post’s podcast that a letter for Vice President JD Vance sits in the Resolute Desk.
- Gorka said the note would guide Vance if the president died or became unable to serve.
- A White House spokesperson did not confirm the letter and instead pointed to Trump’s January remarks about leaving “very firm instructions” for a response if Iran killed him.
- Asked about risks during the Beijing visit, Gorka said there are contingency protocols he could not discuss and said the president is very safe.
- The disclosure comes after three attempts on Trump’s life, most recently an April 25 case at the Washington Hilton that brought federal charges against Cole Allen, and it underscores that the vice president is first in line under the Constitution.