Trump revokes Biden’s security clearance, daily intelligence briefings

• President Donald Trump has revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, citing national security concerns. Trump referenced Biden’s own decision in 2021 to deny Trump intelligence briefings as a precedent.
• Trump criticized Biden’s ability to handle sensitive information, citing findings from special counsel Robert Hur’s report.
• This move is part of a broader effort by Trump to revoke security clearances for several former officials critical of his administration.

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President Donald Trump has revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, citing concerns over Biden’s memory and a precedent set in 2021. The move follows Trump’s broader efforts to strip security protections from former officials critical of his administration.

Why did Trump decide to revoke Biden’s security clearance?

Trump announced the decision on Friday, Feb. 7, in a Truth Social post, stating, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings.”

The move comes after Trump pointed to Biden’s 2021 decision to stop Trump from receiving intelligence briefings. At that time, Biden defended his action by questioning Trump’s trustworthiness, saying, “What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”

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What precedent did Biden set in 2021 for this move?

Trump referenced the precedent set in 2021 when Biden, in an unprecedented move, denied Trump access to classified intelligence. Biden justified his decision by stating concerns over Trump’s “erratic behavior”, even before the Capitol riot, which was linked to Trump’s last days in office. Biden argued that giving Trump intelligence briefings could pose a risk to national security.

What Concerns Did Trump Cite Regarding Biden’s Ability to Handle Sensitive Information?

Trump cited special counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 report as further justification for his decision. The report revealed that Biden has “poor memory” and struggled to recall significant events, such as the year his son, Beau Biden, passed away. Trump used this as evidence to argue that Biden cannot be trusted with sensitive information.

“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump wrote. “I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

How has Trump handled security clearances of other former officials?

Since taking office, Trump has revoked security protections for several former officials, particularly those who have publicly criticized him. Among those affected:

• John Bolton, former national security adviser, who lost his Secret Service protection.
• Mike Pompeo, former secretary of state, had his security protection removed.
• Mark Milley, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saw his security clearance and detail rescinded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• Mark Esper, former defense secretary, also lost security protection.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci, former chief medical adviser, was stripped of his security detail after leading the U.S. response to COVID-19.

Why did Trump target these officials specifically?

Trump’s revocations appear to be connected to his ongoing disputes with these former officials. Many of them were outspoken critics of his policies or decisions. In particular, Trump has taken aim at those involved in handling classified information in ways he believes were damaging to him or his administration.

How many former intelligence officials have had their clearances revoked?

Trump has revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including two former CIA directors. These individuals signed a 2020 letter that suggested reports of Hunter Biden’s laptop were part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Trump accused them of interference in the 2020 election and said their actions made them untrustworthy with classified materials.

What legal and political implications does this move have?

Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance could deepen political divisions and further escalate tensions between the two former presidents. The move raises questions about the precedent for denying intelligence access to former presidents and whether such actions are politically motivated or based on legitimate national security concerns.

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As of now, Biden has not publicly responded to Trump’s decision. Biden’s team was contacted for comment, but no response has been provided.