US President Donald Trump has announced the revocation of Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, citing a precedent set by Biden four years ago.
Trump Declares: ‘Joe, You’re Fired’
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” he added, referencing his famous catchphrase from The Apprentice.
Trump has already rescinded the security clearance of over four dozen former intelligence officials whom he accused of interfering in the 2020 election in Biden’s favor.
Trump Cites Biden’s 2021 Decision
The former president emphasized that Biden “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.”
Trump further stated that Biden “could not be trusted with sensitive information,” referring to a Justice Department investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. Although the inquiry concluded that Biden would not face charges, it noted issues with his memory, a claim Biden has strongly rejected.
Biden’s Response Remains Pending
Since leaving office last month, Biden has kept a low profile and has not yet commented on Trump’s decision.
Biden’s 2021 Move Against Trump
In 2021, Biden became the first president to deny a former leader access to intelligence briefings, citing concerns over Trump’s “erratic behavior,” even before the January 6 Capitol riot.
“What value is giving him an intelligence briefing?” Biden said at the time. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Other Officials Affected by Trump’s Orders
Since returning to office, Trump has also revoked security clearances and protections for key officials linked to the Biden administration:
- Mark Milley, former top US military commander and vocal Trump critic, had his security clearance revoked. The new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also launched an investigation into Milley’s conduct and military rank.
- Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser who led the US response to COVID-19, has lost his security detail. Trump defended this decision as standard, stating lifelong protection is not guaranteed for government officials.
- Dozens of former intelligence officials, including two ex-CIA directors, also had their security clearances revoked. These officials had signed a 2020 letter suggesting reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop were a Russian disinformation effort. However, later investigations confirmed the laptop was real.
Political Ramifications
Trump’s latest moves signal a broader effort to reshape national security policies and target figures from the previous administration. With Biden yet to respond, the political and legal fallout remains to be seen.