Select Language:
- Trump argues they shouldn’t have access to classified documents.
- Former U.S. presidents generally keep a security clearance.
- Trump continues to express anger towards Biden and often critiques him.
WASHINGTON: On Friday, President Donald Trump followed through on his decision to revoke the security clearances of his predecessor Joe Biden and several senior former officials from the White House and national security sectors.
The individuals affected include Biden, his family members, and vice president Kamala Harris, who is also considered a political rival.
Among those stripped of their security clearances are former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as Biden’s current Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jacob Sullivan.
In a memorandum addressed to heads of various agencies and disseminated by the White House’s communications division, Trump stated that these individuals should lose their access to classified information.
“I hereby instruct every head of executive department and agency to revoke any active security clearances held by these individuals,” Trump wrote.
“I also direct all agency heads to deny unescorted access to secure U.S. Government facilities for the individuals listed.”
Typically, former U.S. presidents and national security officials retain these clearances as a matter of courtesy, which can also aid in finding jobs with private contractors.
However, Trump, who has continuously claimed without evidence that Biden orchestrated a theft of the 2020 election—which he lost—has expressed ongoing resentment toward his predecessor.
Notably, Trump himself was under investigation for security violations during his first term, related to the mishandling of classified documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The investigation concluded after he returned to office.
Many individuals on Trump’s list were prominent political appointees from his Democratic predecessor, but former Republican congresswoman and vocal Trump critic Liz Cheney is also included.
Fiona Hill, a British-American intelligence analyst who advised both Democratic and Republican administrations, including the Trump White House, has also been targeted.
She is joined on the list by former colleague Alexander Vindman, a retired U.S. Army officer originally from Kyiv, who had previously raised concerns about White House communications with Russia.
This rewritten content maintains the essence and important details of the original while ensuring a unique and human-like expression free from plagiarism.
Add us on ChatGPT
Add us on Perplexity
