The recent political landscape has seen a significant shift as Joe Biden, the current President, has been stripped of a long-held privilege enjoyed by all former presidents.
This action was taken by the previous President, Donald Trump, who stated that Biden βcould not be trusted.β
During his presidency, Trump aims to revise many policies from the previous administration and introduce what he terms βAmericaβs golden age.β
Notably, he has decided to revoke Bidenβs security clearance and his access to daily intelligence briefings. Trump has commented on his Truth Social platform, insisting, βThere is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information.β
Adding a personal touch, Trump referenced his famous catchphrase from the TV show The Apprentice by stating, βJOE, YOUβRE FIRED.β This move to withdraw Bidenβs privileges appears to be a part of a broader attempt to distance his presidency from the former administration.
This decision is not without precedent. Trump claims he was first excluded from intelligence briefings by Biden at the commencement of his presidency in 2021.
According to Trump, Biden set a new standard by preventing him, the 45th President, from receiving national security updates. Such briefings had traditionally been offered to former presidents as a courtesy.
Trump also accuses Biden of being unreliable with confidential matters, referencing investigations into Bidenβs handling of sensitive files and attributing issues to the Presidentβs alleged memory lapses.
Trump wrote, βThe Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from βpoor memoryβ and, even in his βprime,β could not be trusted with sensitive information. I will always protect our National Security.β
Biden had previously justified his decision to bar Trump from briefings due to perceived βerratic behavior,β querying the value of providing such information to someone he felt lacked discretion. Biden reportedly expressed concern about the possibility of Trump inadvertently leaking information.
Trumpβs revocation of security clearances extends beyond Biden. Several former CIA directors and numerous ex-intelligence officials have had their access removed under accusations of influencing the 2020 election in Bidenβs favor.
Among these is Mark Milley, a top-ranking US military official known for his critical stance against Trump.
There has been a call to reassess Milleyβs military grade, with recommendations made to the new defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, to investigate Milleyβs βconduct.β This move aligns with Trumpβs broader review and restructuring of his predecessorβs administration.
Additionally, Trump has removed access for Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor under Biden, despite Fauciβs prominent role during the coronavirus pandemic response.
Trump has defended these actions as βvery standard,β arguing that such steps are necessary to maintain national security and focus on his governing priorities.