What Happens Night President Is Elected Secret Service

10 Everyday Things No U.S. President Is Allowed to Do While in Function

We know what a president tin can practice in terms of governing the land, merely what well-nigh the normal things they can't do? We contacted a few experts that gave us the insider secrets.

Barack Obama President Barack Obama uses a cell phone to call supporters during a visit to a local campaign office, in Henderson, Nev Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Shutterstock

Have a normal telephone call/video chat with friends

"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 telephone or video-chat tin simply be done on a secured line," says Matt Pinsker, a Homeland Security professor at Virginia Republic University. Whereas nosotros would just option upward our prison cell phones and call our friends without a thought, the president has to notify the Hole-and-corner Service before he does any chatting. Bank check out more fascinating facts about U.Southward. presidents.

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Movie theater with red seats in luxury hotel. August_0802/Shutterstock

Go to the movies

"Going to the movies is mostly not an option," says Pinsker. "They have to bring a picture show to the White House." We don't really mind the thought of a home theater, but every once in a while it'southward nice to treat ourselves to the huge screens and big buckets of buttery popcorn that the public theater has to offer. Did you know near these hidden talents of U.S. presidents?

President Barack Obama having lunch with members of the armed services and local barbers at Kenny's BBQ on Capitol Hill in celebration of Father's Day, Washington DC, America Rex/Shutterstock

Go out to dinner

"Going out to dinner can be done, merely the Secret Service ahead of time volition demand sufficient notice ahead of fourth dimension 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 "nutrient taster" is nowadays to make certain the nutrient is safety to eat. These are the cleverest Secret Service code names for U.S. presidents.

President Donald Trump gets into his car after arriving at Eastern Iowa Airport, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP/Rex/Shutterstock

Drive

"Driving is definitely non an option," says Pinsker. "The president is driven in a highly secured vehicle by an individual who has undergone all-encompassing training to ready for an emergency situation." Notwithstanding, Dr. Jim Ronan, author and professor of political science at Villanova University, notes that at locations similar Army camp David or at personal properties, the president is able to take a walk, ride a bike (that was George Due west. Bush'south preference!), or practise other unproblematic tasks.

"Ane of the biggest restrictions former presidents have cited is the loss of driving privileges, even afterwards leaving office," says Ronan. "Equally a result, Presidents Reagan and George Due west. Bush each enjoyed riding around their respective ranches while in office, as the Secret Service immune them to drive around the secured belongings." Don't miss these confessions from the staff about what it's actually like to piece of work for the presidents.

Chelsea Clinton Chelsea Clinton, 13, daughter of President Clinton, rehearses for her upcoming performance in Washington Ballet's holiday production of "Nutcracker" in Washington J SCOTT APPLEWHITE/Shutterstock

Nourish their children's performances or sporting events

"Some other drawback cited past some one-time presidents is the impact on their firsthand families," says Ronan. "For example, attending a child or grandchild's dance recital or sporting result would involve such extensive security preparations for other attendees and participants that it's substantially out of the question." Imagine having children and non existence able to sentinel them develop their talents!Some presidents' children attended school right in the White House (complete with a classroom andplayground), "because of all of the security that would be required if they attended a traditional school," adds Ronan. Observe out the rules every First Family is supposed to follow.

Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

Utilize personal technology unmonitored

As applied science continues to accelerate, the Secret Service has to be enlightened of all new security threats. "A more recent restriction has involved personal technology, specifically, President Obama'south Blackberry and President Trump's Twitter business relationship," 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 confronting the First Amendment. Social media is often thought of as a place to freely share ideas, but non when you're the leader of the free world—so much so that later to contempo violence at the Capitol building in Jan of 2021, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accept all banned President Trump, either indefinitely or for set periods of time. Check out what else has been banned from the White Firm (hint: technology plays a large role).

John Kennedy, JFK, Jacqueline Kennedy President John F. Kennedy leaves his plane at Otis Air Force Base, Mass.,, for a long weekend holiday at his nearby Hyannis Port home. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy walks down the ramp hand-in-hand with daughter Caroline. Nurse Maud Shaw carries John Jr., in the background AP/Rex/Shutterstock

Use commercial airlines

If the president ever had the aching want to take an American Airlines flight, the Secret Service would answer with a "Sorry, no can do." Dr. Karla Mastracchio, a cybersecurity instructor for SecureSet, notes that this is ane of the few "normal things" that the president absolutely cannot do. "Presidents tin can do virtually of the things regular people tin can do just with a lot more restrictions," she says. When you take Air Forcefulness i, why would y'all want to deal with the hassles that come with commercial airlines anyways? Run across if you can estimate the heart name of every U.S. president.

open window with white frames, yellow bricks and some shadows Comaniciu Dan/Shutterstock

Open the windows

Nope, the POTUS can't fifty-fifty open their windows on a beautiful leap mean solar day. Former Get-go Lady Michelle Obama told Stephen Colbert, "I desire to practise little things like, you know, open a window," as she was anticipating the finish of her hubby'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 FLOTUS: "1 twenty-four hour period as a treat, my lead amanuensis let me have my windows open on the mode to Camp David. It was like v minutes out. He was like, 'Windows open. Enjoy it.'" It'due south freedoms like these that usa "normal people" oft take for granted. But there are plenty of things U.S. presidents actually have to pay for on their own.

President Jimmy Carter ponders material in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington in preparation for his televised "fireside chat" with the nation later this evening Harvey Georges/Shutterstock

Clean their function

Dr. Mastracchio notes that the president is besides discouraged from cleaning their office or throwing away mail. "Under the Presidential Records Deed, they are mandated to hang on to things that an ordinary person does not," she says. This includes emails. This would drive all of united states "inbox zip" people insane! Everything must be meticulously sorted and cleaned by other White Business firm staffers earlier it is tossed. Practice you know which xiii presidents had the highest IQ scores?

U S President George W Bush Speaks with Women at the Annual Peace Officers? Memorial Service in Front of the U S Capitol in Washington D C On 15 May 2007 Bush Spent Almost Three Hours Greeting Family and Friends of Fallen Peace Officers Stefan Zaklin/Shutterstock

Aught… if nosotros're being technical

"An of import terminal point is one that'due south oftentimes overlooked—although the Secret Service can suggest, 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 every bit walking out of the White House to greet people or visiting a unsafe location, the president has the final say and the Secret Service will try its best to arrange to the circumstances." Then if the president has a driving urge to do something that could evoke a threat, the Secret Service has to allow him practice information technology.

However, Devin Schindler, Auxiliary Dean and Constitutional Constabulary professor at Western Michigan University, notes that "A federal statute, 18 United states of americaC. 3056, still, 'authorizes' the Secret Service to protect the president and his immediate family unit. The police force essentially forbids the president from refusing Secret Service protection. As a practical affair, a series of rules take developed over the years to protect the President from potential harm." Now, find out the presidential trivia everyone ever gets wrong.

Sources:

Matt Pinsker, Homeland Security professor at Virginia Commonwealth University
Snopes: "Presidential Food Tasters"
Dr. Jim Ronan, author and professor of political science at Villanova Academy
Contained: "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 Outset Affair She Tin't Wait to Exercise When She Leaves the White Firm"
National Archives: "Presidential Records Human activity (PRA) of 1978"
Devin Schindler, Auxiliary Dean and Ramble Law professor at Western Michigan University
Cornell Police force School: "xviii U.S. Code § 3056.Powers, authorities, and duties of United states Secret Service"
The Washington Mail: "These are the platforms that take banned Trump and his allies"