Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Citing Precedent
President Trump announced the revocation of Joe Biden's security clearance, citing a precedent set by Biden in 2021. He also referenced a report detailing Biden's alleged memory issues related to classified information.
Washington -- President Trump announced on Friday night that he is "immediately revoking" former President Joe Biden's security clearance, preventing him from receiving intelligence briefings.
Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, "There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information."
The former president explained that this action mirrors what Biden did to him in 2021, citing it as a precedent.
During an interview with CBS News in February 2021, Biden expressed doubt about Trump's trustworthiness with classified information due to his "erratic behavior." Biden remarked, "I'd rather not speculate out loud," and questioned the value of providing intelligence briefings to Trump.
The briefings are typically offered to former presidents as a courtesy after they leave office.
Moreover, Trump referenced a report by Robert Hur, the special counsel who investigated Biden's handling of classified materials post-vice presidency. Trump stated, "The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from 'poor memory' and, even in his 'prime,' could not be trusted with sensitive information."
The report also sparked controversy among Biden's allies, who were angered by observations regarding his memory, suggesting he could appear to a jury as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."
Despite these findings, Hur ultimately decided against pursuing criminal charges against Biden, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove he violated the law beyond a reasonable doubt.
In one of his initial executive actions after returning to the White House, Trump also revoked the security clearances of several former intelligence officials. This included individuals who signed a 2020 letter alleging that emails from Hunter Biden's laptop resembled a Russian disinformation campaign. Additionally, Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and Gen. Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also had their clearances revoked.
