Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance, effectively ending his predecessor’s access to classified intelligence briefings.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s security clearances and stopping his daily intelligence briefings.”
In a nod to his former reality TV show The Apprentice, Trump added in capital letters: “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.”
A Break from Tradition
Traditionally, former U.S. presidents retain the privilege of receiving intelligence briefings even after leaving office. However, Trump justified the decision by citing Biden’s own move to revoke his security clearance after winning the 2020 election.
At the time, Biden pointed to Trump’s “erratic behavior”—particularly before and after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol—as grounds for the revocation.
Intelligence Concerns
In his post on Friday, Trump argued that Biden “could not be trusted” with sensitive intelligence, referencing a recent special counsel report that described Biden, 82, as suffering from “poor memory.”
Ironically, Trump himself faced legal scrutiny over the mishandling of classified documents. However, the Justice Department dropped the case following his victory in the 2024 presidential election.
