President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearance, effectively stripping him of access to classified intelligence briefings. Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social platform, citing Biden’s decision in 2021 to block him from receiving intelligence briefings after leaving office.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Donald Trump wrote. “He set this precedent in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing national security details.”
The decision marks another step in Donald Trump’s aggressive reshaping of the federal government following his return to office. This move comes amid a broader effort to strip security clearances and government protections from officials who have opposed him, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Donald Trump Cites Biden’s Memory Issues in Justifying Decision
Donald Trump’s post referenced a Justice Department special counsel report led by Robert Hur, which criticized Biden’s handling of classified documents and described him as an “elderly man with poor memory.” Trump used the report as evidence that Biden should not have continued access to sensitive intelligence.
“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump stated.
Hur’s report, released in early 2024, found that Biden had improperly retained classified materials but declined to recommend criminal charges. The report also noted Biden’s struggles to recall major life events, including the death of his son Beau and the dates of his vice presidency. Biden strongly rejected the report’s characterization, but Trump has since used it as a justification for limiting Biden’s post-presidential privileges.
Biden Had Revoked Trump’s Access in 2021
Donald Trump’s decision mirrors Biden’s own move in 2021, when he barred Trump from receiving intelligence briefings following the January 6th Capitol riot. At the time, Biden expressed concerns over Trump’s “erratic behavior,” suggesting that he could not be trusted with classified information.
“What value is giving him an intelligence briefing?” Biden said in an interview. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Biden’s action was unprecedented, as former presidents traditionally retain access to intelligence briefings as a courtesy. However, the January 6th attack led many officials to question whether Trump should continue receiving sensitive government information.
Trump’s Broader Effort to Strip Opponents of Security Access
Trump’s revocation of Biden’s clearance is part of a larger pattern of stripping security protections from officials he perceives as adversaries. In recent weeks, he has taken similar actions against former high-ranking officials, including:
Mike Pompeo – The former Secretary of State, who faces threats from Iran, had his security detail revoked.
Dr. Anthony Fauci – The former infectious disease expert and COVID-19 response leader lost his government protection.
John Bolton – The former National Security Adviser, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, also lost his Secret Service protection.
Additionally, Trump has rescinded the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop controversy bore signs of Russian disinformation.
Political and National Security Implications
Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance is likely to deepen the already tense political divide in Washington. Critics argue that the move is more about political payback than national security, as Biden is no longer in office and does not actively influence intelligence policy.
“This is pure retribution,” said a former senior intelligence official. “Trump is using his power to punish people he sees as disloyal.”
Supporters of the decision, however, claim that it is a necessary measure to protect national security. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Hit the road, Jack, and don’t you come back no more!”
With Trump’s return to office, his actions indicate that he intends to overhaul security and intelligence policies in ways that reflect his grievances from his first term. As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how Biden and his allies will respond to this latest move.
