10 things no US president is allowed to do

“The Secret Service goes to great lengths to plan, coordinate and secure all of the president’s activities. For example, talking to a friend over the phone or video-chat can only be done on a secured line,” says Matt Pinsker, a Homeland Security professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Whereas we would just pick up our phones and call our friends without a thought, the president has to notify the Secret Service before he does any chatting.

“Going to the movies is generally not an option,” says Pinsker. “They have to bring a film to the White House.” We don’t really mind the thought of a home theatre, but every once in a while it’s nice to treat ourselves to the huge screens and big buckets of buttery popcorn that the public theatre has to offer.

“Going out to dinner can be done, but the Secret Service will need sufficient notice ahead of time so that they will be able to secure the restaurant,” says Pinsker. Also, it’s been reported that the president may not be able to eat outside of the White House unless an official “food taster” is present to make sure the food is safe to eat.

“Driving is definitely not an option,” says Pinsker. “The president is driven in a highly secured vehicle by an individual who has undergone extensive training to prepare for an emergency situation.” However, Dr Jim Ronan, author and professor of political science at Villanova University, notes that at locations like Camp David or on personal properties, the president is able to take a walk, ride a bike (that was George W. Bush’s preference!), or do other simple tasks.

“One of the biggest restrictions former presidents have cited is the loss of driving privileges, even after leaving office,” says Ronan. “As a result, Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush each enjoyed riding around their respective ranches while in office, as the Secret Service allowed them to drive around the secured property.”

Here’s another simple task that one man is finding difficult, leaving the White House graciously after losing the election.

So what happens if the president won’t leave office?

“Another drawback cited by some former presidents is the impact on their immediate families,” says Ronan. “For instance, attending a child or grandchild’s dance recital [such as the one pictured of Chelsea Clinton performing in The Nutcracker] or sporting event would involve such extensive security preparations for other attendees and participants that it’s essentially out of the question.” Imagine having children and not being able to watch them develop their talents! Some presidents’ children attended school right in the White House (complete with a classroom and playground), “because of all of the security that would be required if they attended a traditional school,” adds Ronan.

As technology continues to advance, the Secret Service has to be aware of all new security threats. “A more recent restriction has involved personal technology, specifically, President Obama’s Blackberry and President Trump’s Twitter account,” says Ronan. “Both were advised to discontinue, or at least heavily curtail, their usage after assuming office.” In 2018, it was reported that the president cannot block people on social media, because it goes against the First Amendment. Social media is often thought of as a place to freely share ideas, but not when you’re the leader of the free world.

If the president ever had the aching desire to take an American Airlines flight, the Secret Service would reply with a “Sorry, no can do.” Dr Karla Mastracchio, a cybersecurity instructor for SecureSet, notes that this is one of the few “normal things” that the president absolutely cannot do. “Presidents can do most of the things regular people can do but with a lot more restrictions,” she says. When you have Air Force 1, why would you want to deal with the hassles that come with commercial airlines anyway?

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Nope, the president can’t even open their windows on a beautiful spring day. Former First Lady Michelle Obama told Stephen Colbert, “I want to do little things like, you know, open a window,” as she was anticipating the end of her husband’s term. For security reasons, no windows can be opened in the White House or the car. Except for one exception mentioned by the former first lady: “One day as a treat, my lead agent let me have my windows open on the way to Camp David. It was like five minutes out. He was like, ‘Windows open. Enjoy it.’” It’s freedoms like these that us “normal people” often take for granted.

Dr Mastracchio notes that presidents are also discouraged from cleaning their office or throwing away mail. “Under the Presidential Records Act, they are mandated to hang on to things that an ordinary person does not,” she says. This includes emails. This would drive all of us “inbox zero” people insane! Everything must be meticulously sorted and cleaned by other White House staffers before it is tossed.

“An important final point is one that’s often overlooked – although the Secret Service can advise, and, in some cases, strongly discourage, they ultimately answer to the president,” says Ronan. “Therefore, if a president wants to do something that raises security issues, such as walking out of the White House to greet people or visiting a dangerous location, the president has the final say and the Secret Service will try its best to adapt to the circumstances.” So, if the president has a driving urge to do something that could evoke a threat, the Secret Service has to let him do it.

However, Devin Schindler, Auxiliary Dean and Constitutional Law professor at Western Michigan University, notes that “federal statute, 18 U.S.C. 3056, ‘authorises’ the Secret Service to protect the president and his immediate family. The law essentially forbids the president from refusing Secret Service protection. As a practical matter, a series of rules have developed over the years to protect the President from potential harm.”

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Source: RD.com

• Matt Pinsker, Homeland Security professor at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Snopes: “Presidential Food Tasters”
• Dr Jim Ronan, author and professor of political science at Villanova University
• Independent: “Donald Trump can’t block people on Twitter because of First Amendment, judge rules”
• Dr Karla Mastracchio, cybersecurity instructor for SecureSet
• E!: “First Lady Michelle Obama Reveals the First Thing She Can’t Wait to Do When She Leaves the White House”
• National Archives: “Presidential Records Act (PRA) of 1978”
• Devin Schindler, Auxiliary Dean and Constitutional Law professor at Western Michigan University
• Cornell Law School: “18 U.S. Code § 3056.Powers, authorities, and duties of United States Secret Service”