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President Donald Trump has announced the immediate revocation of former President Joe Biden’s security clearance, effectively cutting off his access to classified intelligence briefings. The decision, revealed in a Friday post on Truth Social, aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to reshape security policies concerning former officials.
“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.
The move follows a precedent set in 2021 when Biden’s administration revoked Trump’s post-presidency intelligence access. At the time, Biden justified the decision by questioning Trump’s need for classified information.
“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden said. “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?”
Trump referenced the 2024 report by Special Counsel Robert Hur, which assessed Biden’s handling of classified documents and raised concerns about his memory. The report suggested Biden exhibited signs of cognitive decline and had difficulty recalling key details even during his tenure as vice president.
“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump wrote. “I will always protect our national security—JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump has also made similar security policy changes affecting other former officials. His administration has revoked security protections and clearances for multiple high-profile figures, particularly those who previously held national security roles or were critical of him.
Last month, Trump ended Secret Service protection for John Bolton, his former national security adviser. Bolton, a longtime hawk on foreign policy, had received security threats from Iran following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
The Hill reported that Trump also removed security measures for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo, a close Trump ally during his first term, had been targeted by Iranian threats due to his role in the Soleimani operation.
Additionally, Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, rescinded security clearance and protective details for retired Army General Mark Milley, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley had publicly clashed with Trump on multiple occasions and had been a frequent target of criticism from the former president.
This week, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper became the latest official to lose security protections. Esper’s security detail, previously provided by the Department of Defense, was withdrawn under Trump’s directive.
Trump’s recent moves suggest a broader effort to reshape security policies for former officials, particularly those he perceives as adversaries or lacking in reliability regarding classified information. His decision to revoke Biden’s clearance reflects his belief that the former president no longer requires access to sensitive intelligence and poses a security risk.
Biden, who is currently seeking re-election, has yet to respond to Trump’s announcement. However, Democrats are expected to push back against the move, framing it as a political maneuver rather than a legitimate national security decision.
With Trump’s presidency now in full swing, his administration appears poised to continue restructuring security policies, particularly for individuals he deems unnecessary or untrustworthy in handling classified information.
