Former US President Donald Trump declared that he is revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, a move reminiscent of when Biden restricted Trump’s access four years prior.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” adding humorously, “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” echoing his famous catchphrase from The Apprentice.
Trump had previously revoked the security clearances of over forty former intelligence officials whom he accused of interfering in the 2020 election on Biden’s behalf. He noted that Biden “set this precedent in 2021” by instructing the Intelligence Community to deny Trump access to national security details, a courtesy typically extended to ex-presidents.
He asserted that Biden “could not be trusted with sensitive information,” referencing a Justice Department investigation into the Democrat’s handling of classified files. Although the inquiry concluded that criminal charges were unnecessary, it highlighted Biden’s poor memory concerning significant life events, including the year his son Beau passed away and details from his vice presidency under Barack Obama. Biden had rejected this portrayal at the time.
The former president, who has remained mostly out of the public eye since leaving office last month, has not yet commented on Trump’s latest actions. Meanwhile, Biden’s talent agency, which recently signed him, has not provided a response.
In 2021, Biden was the first president to deny a former president classified intelligence briefings, justifying his decision by stating Trump could not be trusted due to his “erratic behavior” even prior to the 2021 Capitol riot, which Democrats accused Trump of inciting.
Biden questioned what value there was in providing Trump with intelligence briefings, suggesting he might inadvertently disclose sensitive information. In 2022, federal agents found classified materials at Trump’s Florida residence, leading to charges against him for willfully retaining defense information, a case he pleaded not guilty to and was eventually dropped upon his re-election.
Since reclaiming office, Trump has also moved to revoke security clearances and protections for various officials connected to the Biden administration, including former top military commander Mark Milley, a critic of Trump, and former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, who played a leading role in the US response to Covid-19.
Trump characterized the decision to revoke protections as “very standard,” stating it’s unreasonable for all former government employees to retain security protection indefinitely. He also terminated security detail for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his former National Security Adviser John Bolton last month.
The former president has recently ordered the security clearances of dozens of former intelligence officials revoked, including two ex-CIA directors, who had signed a letter in 2020 labeling reports about a laptop owned by Biden’s son, Hunter, as a Russian hoax. The laptop, however, contained evidence of illicit activities and was authentic.
