President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is revoking former President Joe Biden's security clearance and discontinuing the daily intelligence briefings Biden has been receiving. This move is in retaliation for Biden doing the same to Trump in 2021.
Trump revealed his decision in a post on his social media platform shortly after arriving at his Mar-a-Lago home and private club in Palm Beach for the weekend.
Newsweek emailed the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware on Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
Traditionally, former presidents continue to receive intelligence briefings even after leaving office. However, in a post on Friday, Trump claimed that President Biden used his tenure to instruct the intelligence community to prevent Trump from accessing national security information.
In 2021, shortly after assuming office, Biden expressed in an interview with CBS that he did not believe Trump should have access to intelligence briefings due to his "erratic behavior" and the concern that he might disclose sensitive information.
In 2022, federal agents conducted a search at Trump's Florida residence, seizing boxes of classified documents. Trump was subsequently indicted on numerous felony charges, including illegal possession of classified records and obstructing FBI attempts to retrieve them. He pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. A judge later dismissed the charges, ruling that the special counsel who initiated them was appointed illegally. Following Trump's election in November, the Justice Department decided not to pursue any appeals.
"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 at the time.
What To Know
Less than 24 hours after returning to office, Trump ordered the revocation of security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials, alleging they sided with Biden in the 2020 election or turned against him.
The abrupt termination of Dr. Anthony Fauci's federal security detail reflects a pattern seen with other high-profile former officials, such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and his top aide Brian Hook. These decisions come despite persistent threats linked to their roles in the Trump administration.
In addition, Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked the security protections and clearance of retired Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley and has ordered a Pentagon inspector general review to assess whether a demotion is warranted.
When asked about the move, President Trump remarked, "They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too."
Bolton, Hook, and Pompeo previously had their security details extended by the Biden administration due to credible threats from Iran. Fauci's protection, similarly, extended by President Joe Biden, stemmed from domestic threats he received during the pandemic.
In one of his final acts as president, Biden issued a sweeping preemptive pardon for Fauci on Monday, shielding him from potential legal scrutiny.
What People Are Saying
Trump's Friday night Truth Social post stated: "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. 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."
The post continued, "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 — JOE, YOU'RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Tommy Stallings, posting on his @Used_To_Be_GOP X, formerly Twitter, account: "Donald Trump should be worried about the here and now but his warped and twisted mind won't allow him to. What does revoking Biden's security clearance accomplish other than satisfy a petty grievance of a childish man? Trump is unwell."
What Happens Next
Trump also used an executive order to revoke "any active or current security clearances" held by 51 former intelligence officials, including Bolton, who signed a letter in 2020 casting doubt on the provenance of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
"Signatories of the letter falsely suggested that the news story was part of a Russian disinformation campaign," the executive order reads.
Update: 2/07/25, 7:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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About the writer
Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he ... Read more