Trump revokes Biden’s security clearance for classified briefings
US President Donald Trump has revoked security clearance for his predecessor, President Joe Biden, preventing him from receiving classified briefings. The move appears to be a direct response to Biden’s 2021 decision to deny Trump access to such information.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns. “Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s security clearances and stopping his daily intelligence briefings.”
Trump justified his decision by citing Biden’s own actions in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to block Trump, then a former president, from receiving national security updates.
“He set this precedent in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on national security, a courtesy provided to former presidents,” Trump wrote.
Referring to US Attorney Robert Hur’s 2024 report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, Trump added, “The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information. I will always protect our national security.” He ended his statement with, “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Former US presidents typically receive classified briefings on a limited basis, particularly before foreign trips, major policy speeches, or diplomatic interactions. However, Biden had revoked Trump’s access in 2021, citing security concerns following Trump’s role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
At the time, Biden had questioned the necessity of such briefings for Trump, saying in an interview with CBS News, “What value is there in giving him an intelligence briefing?”
Trump’s decision aligns with his broader pattern of stripping security clearances from critics and former officials. Since taking office, his administration has removed clearances for individuals such as retired General Mark Milley, who had called Trump “fascist to the core,” and over 50 former intelligence officials who had suggested that emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop were part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Additionally, Trump has revoked security privileges for former allies who have fallen out of his favor, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
