US President Donald Trump has announced the revocation of his predecessor Joe Biden’s security clearance, effectively ending his access to classified intelligence briefings.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump declared, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Joe, you’re fired.”
The move comes in response to a similar action taken by Biden in 2021 when he blocked Trump from receiving intelligence briefings, citing concerns over his “erratic behaviour.”
Trump justified his decision by arguing that Biden “could not be trusted with sensitive information,” referring to a Justice Department inquiry that described the former Democratic president’s memory as poor.
Precedent and retaliation
Biden, who left office last month, has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement. However, the decision marks a continuation of the deep political divide between the two leaders.
Shortly after assuming office in 2021, Biden revoked Trump’s access to classified briefings, arguing that the former president might “slip and say something” that could compromise national security. This was the first time in US history that an ex-president had been denied intelligence updates.
Trump, now in his second term, said his decision follows the precedent set by Biden. “Biden set this precedent in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on national security,” he wrote.
Sweeping revocations
Since returning to office, Trump has also taken steps to strip security clearances and protections from several officials linked to the Biden administration.
Among those affected is retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had been a vocal critic of Trump. The new Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has ordered an investigation into Milley’s conduct and a review of his military rank.
Additionally, Trump has revoked the security detail of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser who led the US response to Covid-19. The president defended the move as a “very standard” practice, stating that “not everyone can have security protection for the rest of their life just because they worked for the government.”
Trump has also targeted more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including two ex-CIA directors, who signed a 2020 letter suggesting that reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop were a Russian disinformation campaign. The laptop, which contained compromising personal data and business dealings, was later confirmed to be real.
