Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Political Opponents
President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of several political opponents, including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, citing national interest.
In a move that has sparked widespread controversy, President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of a number of high-profile political figures who have been vocal critics of his administration. The list includes former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, among others. The White House released a memo stating that the decision was made because it is “no longer in the national interest” for these individuals to have access to classified information.
The memo, which was released on Friday, also named several other individuals, including Antony Blinken, Jacob Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, and members of the Biden family. This action follows a similar move by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard earlier this month, who revoked the clearances of the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter.
In addition to losing their security clearances, the affected individuals have also had their unescorted access to secure U.S. government facilities rescinded. The move has been met with a mix of reactions, with some of the affected individuals dismissing the revocation on social media. Mark Zaid and Norman Eisen, for example, noted that it was not the first time their clearances had been revoked, while Adam Kinzinger, who retired from the military a year ago, called the president a “dumba–” in a video response.
This latest development comes on the heels of another controversial decision by Trump to strip Hunter and Ashley Biden of their Secret Service protection. Trump justified the move on Truth Social, arguing that the extensive security detail for Hunter Biden, which he claimed included as many as 18 agents, was “ridiculous” and a burden on taxpayers. The decision to remove Secret Service protection from the Biden children was effective immediately, although under federal law, former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifelong protection, which does not extend to their adult children after leaving office.
The revocation of security clearances and the stripping of Secret Service protection have reignited debates about the use of executive power and the motivations behind such decisions. Critics argue that these actions are politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition, while supporters of the president view them as necessary steps to protect national security interests.