U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday, February 7, that he is revoking his predecessor, Joe Biden’s, access to classified information and halting the daily intelligence briefings provided to him.
The decision, which Trump justified as a matter of national security, was revealed in a post on his social media platform shortly after he arrived at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“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,” Trump stated.
Trump cited the 2023 special counsel report into Biden’s handling of classified documents as part of his rationale. “The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” he wrote. Concluding his post, Trump declared, “I will always protect our national security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The move appears to be a direct response to Biden’s 2021 decision to revoke Trump’s access to intelligence briefings following the January 6 Capitol riot. At the time, Biden expressed concerns about Trump’s “erratic behavior” and questioned the value of providing him with classified intelligence.
“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden told CBS News. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Trump’s latest action follows his previous revocation of security clearances from more than four dozen former intelligence officials who had signed a letter in 2020 suggesting that reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop had the hallmarks of a “Russian information operation.”
Additionally, Trump has removed security protections for former officials who have been critical of him, including his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has faced threats from Iran and ex-White House infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Biden has not yet commented on Trump’s decision. However, the revocation comes against the backdrop of legal battles concerning classified documents involving both men.
In 2022, federal agents searched Trump’s Florida residence and seized numerous classified records. He was subsequently indicted on felony charges for allegedly mishandling sensitive documents and obstructing justice. Trump pleaded not guilty, and a judge later dismissed the case, ruling that the special counsel overseeing it had been illegally appointed. The Justice Department dropped its appeal after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance is expected to spark debates over presidential power and national security, with critics likely to view it as a retaliatory move, while supporters may argue it is a necessary measure to safeguard classified information.
