Donald Trump has just stripped Joe Biden of a significant privilege that all former presidents typically receive, arguing that he “could not be trusted.”
Trump is determined to reverse many of his predecessor’s policies and usher in what he calls “the golden age of America” during his administration.
Now, in what appears to be a direct rebuke to Biden, Trump has announced that he is revoking the former president’s security clearance and barring him from daily intelligence briefings, citing concerns over trust.
He wrote on his Truth Social platform: “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information.”
“JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” the Republican quipped, referencing his famous catchphrase from The Apprentice. Lately, he has been using it frequently as he removes several of Biden’s former government officials.
Trump made this decision while asserting that Biden had done the same to him in 2021, marking the first time a former president was denied access to intelligence briefings.
He claimed that Biden “set this precedent” by directing the Intelligence Community (IC) to prevent “the 45th President of the United States (ME!)” from receiving national security updates— a privilege traditionally extended to ex-presidents.
Trump further accused Biden of being unfit to handle classified information, citing an investigation into the improper storage of sensitive documents, which described the 82-year-old as having memory issues.
He wrote: “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.”
As a standard practice, all former presidents are granted access to classified intelligence briefings, but Biden revoked Trump’s privilege in 2021.
Biden cited Trump’s “erratic behavior” as the reason for this decision, stating: “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?”
Additionally, Trump had previously revoked security clearances for multiple former intelligence officials, including ex-CIA directors, many of whom he accused of interfering in the 2020 election to support Biden.
Among those stripped of clearance was top U.S. military commander Mark Milley, who has openly criticized the former president.
Meanwhile, the new defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has reportedly initiated an investigation into Milley’s “conduct” and ordered a review of his military rank, according to the BBC.
