In a dramatic move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump has officially revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance, barring him from receiving intelligence briefings. Trump announced the decision on his Truth Social platform, declaring that there was “no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information.”
Trump’s decision is seen as a direct response to Biden’s own actions in 2021 when he denied Trump access to intelligence briefings, citing concerns over his “erratic behavior.” At the time, Biden said Trump couldn’t be trusted with classified information and questioned whether there was any value in allowing him continued access.
Now, Trump is flipping the script. He justified his decision by citing the controversial Hur Report, which raised questions about Biden’s cognitive abilities, describing his memory as “poor” and suggesting that even in his “prime,” he could not be trusted with sensitive information. The report, conducted by special counsel Robert Hur, became a political firestorm, with Republicans seizing on its findings to argue that Biden was unfit for office.
“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and cannot be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump stated, reinforcing his belief that Biden should no longer have access to national security briefings.
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Trump didn’t stop at Biden. In one of his first major executive actions since returning to the White House, he also revoked the security clearances of dozens of former intelligence officials who had signed a 2020 letter dismissing Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal as “Russian disinformation.” Among those stripped of clearance were former National Security Adviser John Bolton and ex-Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, both known for their sharp criticism of Trump.
This stunning escalation has sparked intense debate, with critics calling it political retaliation and Trump’s supporters hailing it as a necessary move to safeguard national security.
