Donald Trump officially takes away major right from Joe Biden claiming he ‘can’t be trusted’
Former President Donald Trump has officially revoked the security clearances of more than a dozen individuals, including his predecessor Joe Biden, Biden’s family, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and several anti-Trump politicians and legal figures. In a memo signed on Friday (March 21), Trump stated that the decision was made “in the national interest” and cited concerns about the individuals’ trustworthiness with classified information.
Historically, former presidents and senior government officials have been granted access to classified intelligence briefings as a courtesy, allowing for collaboration between current and former leaders on national security matters. However, Trump argued that this tradition should no longer apply to those he deems untrustworthy.
In the memo, Trump wrote, “I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.” He also claimed that Biden had set a precedent for this action by revoking Trump’s access to intelligence briefings in 2021. At the time, Biden cited Trump’s “erratic behavior” as the reason for the decision, questioning the value of providing him with sensitive information.
Trump defended his decision by pointing to an inquiry into Biden’s handling of classified documents, which raised concerns about the 82-year-old’s memory and ability to safeguard sensitive information. He also accused Biden of politicizing the intelligence community and undermining national security.
The list of individuals whose security clearances were revoked includes former Biden administration officials such as Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, and Lisa Monaco, as well as legal figures like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Anti-Trump Republicans Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney were also barred, along with witnesses from Trump’s impeachment trials, including Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, and Mark Zaid.
Additionally, Trump targeted key figures involved in investigations against him, such as Andrew Weissmann, the lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation, and Norman Eisen, who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump’s impeachment.
Trump’s memo directed executive departments and agency heads to take all necessary actions to revoke the individuals’ security clearances and access to classified information. He also ordered the revocation of their “unescorted access” to government facilities and instructed agencies to inform private employers if any of the individuals held security clearances through their jobs.
The move has sparked controversy, with critics accusing Trump of using national security as a pretext to settle political scores. Supporters, however, argue that the decision is a necessary step to protect sensitive information from individuals who may misuse it.
