Ex-Presidents Have Rules Too? You’ll Be Shocked!

Most people believe that former presidents have the freedom to do anything. However, in reality, things are way different. When a U.S. president finishes their time in the White House, they get just a part of their freedom back. But even after they leave office, former presidents still have to follow a long list of rules.

Yes, they no longer have to stress about press conferences, big decisions, and the stress from running a whole country, but there are definitely other challenges they encounter. Just because they are no longer in charge, it doesn’t mean that they can do whatever they want. In fact, being a former president comes with very specific restrictions we’re about to discuss. For example, did you know that former presidents can’t drive? They can’t just take their family and go for a weekend getaway. Even years after leaving office, they must have someone else behind the wheel.

And it doesn’t stop here. There’s a long list of rules that need to be respected. So, whether they like it or not, many of these rules exist for good reason. The government wants to make sure that past leaders are safe and that sensitive information never falls into the wrong hands. Read on and see which challenges every former president deals with.

10 Totally Normal Things Ex-Presidents CAN’T Do

1. They can’t break the law

You might be thinking that even though a president is out of office, he would most likely benefit from some immunity. Well, that’s totally false. While a current US president might have some benefits for certain actions they committed, a former president is treated like a normal citizen. No matter their position, once a former president breaks the law, they will definitely have to follow the system and face prosecution just like any other citizen. No one is about the law, not even an ex-American president.

2. They can’t share classified information

Former presidents are not allowed to share any important information. Considering the amount of sensitive information they possess, they need to keep their mouths shut once they leave the office. Sometimes, even after their time in office, presidents remain informed for diplomatic and security reasons.

So, no matter the circumstances, former presidents are not allowed to share any information that could affect American society.

3. They can’t purchase their electronic devices

Did you know that former presidents are not allowed to purchase their own electronic devices? Considering how much important information they continue to handle, ex-presidents have to follow some strict rules when it comes to their personal electronic devices. For example, before purchasing a new phone, tablet, or laptop, they need to obtain approval from the Secret Service. This way, they’l ensure that the new devices meet security standards.

President Donald Trump disagreed with these rules, and unfortunately, it led to the hacking of his electronic devices.

4. They can’t receive secret deliveries

As you already know, former presidents remain under strict Secret Service oversight. A president can’t simply go back to his normal life once he leaves the office. Presidency is, by far, one of the most important jobs a person can have, but also one of the most risky. Presidents are forced to compromise their privacy, their families, and their lives for the better of the country. So, once they were in power, they would never be able to be unseen again.

So, here’s how things work: before a former president can receive a package, the Secret Service must review its contents, keeping any threats away from the former president.

5. They can’t hit the open road

It might sound crazy, but former presidents are not allowed to drive by themselves. This rule was created after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. So, the only place where presidents can drive is their private properties.

When they need to move to one place or another, former presidents and their families are accompanied by the Secret Service, who are trained for any unexpected situation.

Sources are saying that Bill Clinton is one of the former presidents who misses driving the most. He always takes the golf cart whenever he has the opportunity. Even moments of freedom feel amazing for him. On the other hand, Donald Trump never really loved driving. He had a personal driver long before he was president.

6. They can’t use their personal email

Former presidents need to pay attention to the methods they use to communicate. Once they had access to some of the most sensitive secrets, they couldn’t just go back to using their Gmail. Ex-presidents have to adhere to strict guidelines and never use any apps without encryption.

Even though the former ex-presidents are not in charge anymore, there might be foreign actors who’ll try to get information from them, and even with all the protection methods, electronic communication is still a weak point. So, to keep things under control and avoid any unpleasant situations, they are strongly advised to use secure channels.

7. They can’t travel alone

Did you know that ex-presidents receive lifetime protection? It means that they never really do anything alone. They can’t just hop on a commercial flight and go on a vacation with their family. Every movement is protected and very well coordinated. Believe it or not, but even a small walk in the park requires a lot of preparation and security presence.

Technically, all the former presidents have the right to decline the protection, but most of them don’t. The treats are real, and they prefer to be safe rather than sorry.

8. They can’t make unapproved speeches on foreign countries

When ex-presidents travel, they are often invited to speak at forums, universities, or even charity events. No matter the type of event, their speeches need to be approved by the National Security Council.

You may wonder why. Well, their words still carry political weight, so if a former president says anything wrong, the speech can seriously confuse allies and impact trade deals or diplomatic relations.

9. They can’t have an ordinary job

Once you’ve held the most powerful job in the world, it’s almost impossible to go back to a 9-to-5 program. This is not just because of image reasons, but mostly about security. Realistically speaking, former presidents can put their lives in danger if they do not pay attention to the environments they’re in.

The Security Service will have to secure the location, and there will also be cameras to follow their every move. It’s not comfortable at all. So, once they were the state’s leader, they had better occupy their time with something else.

10. They can’t keep all their gifts

The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution restricts presidents from accepting gifts of high value from foreign governments. The rules continue after the offices. Even though they were given to the presidents, most of the gifts are turned over to the National Archives or Presidential Libraries.

The Bottom Line

Being a former president sounds like the end of an era, but also the end of a huge responsibility. The former presidents can finally focus on their personal goals and plans for the future. Even though they’ll never really go back to their (once considered) ‘normal’ lives, it feels good for them to benefit from a little freedom.

So, even though their time in the office is over, they will still carry the weight of the job. Their actions still matter, and most importantly, they still have rules to follow.

Before leaving, here’s a great book that can be found on Amazon. It’s called: Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House.

Don’t know what to read next? Here’s our recommendation: 9 Kennedy Family Secrets So Dark the Family Tried to Hide Them