Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Ending Classifications Briefing
Donald Trump announced the revocation of Joe Biden's security clearance, cutting off his access to classified briefings. This move is seen as political retaliation following Biden's earlier action against Trump.
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- President Donald Trump on Friday night announced he was revoking the security clearance for Joe Biden, eliminating the ability of the former president to continue receiving classified briefings.
"We are immediately revoking Joe Biden's Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings," he wrote on social media as he arrived here for the weekend.
It amounts to a bit of political payback after Biden revoked Trump's security clearance in 2021.
"He 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, a courtesy provided to former Presidents," Trump wrote, going on to question without evidence Biden's cognitive abilities as a reason to halt his access to briefings.
A representative for Biden did not immediately comment on the decision.
Biden, in an interview with the "CBS Evening News With Norah O'Donnell" that aired in February 2021, said that Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, citing his "erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection," referring to the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
"I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings. 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?" Biden said when questioned. It also came amid questions about how Trump had mishandled classified materials.
The briefings in the past had been provided to former presidents, partly so that they could be consulted by their successors for advice.
There is little indication that Trump plans to rely on his predecessor.
"I will always protect our National Security -- JOE, YOU'RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he wrote Friday.
