The security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, has been withdrawn by United States President Donald Trump.
Trump asserted in a post on his Truth Social platform that the removal of Biden’s security clearance and the cessation of intelligence briefings to the former president is retaliation for the way he was handled during the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Trump said; “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.
“He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the intelligence community (IC) to stop the 45th president of the United States (me!) from accessing details on national security, a courtesy provided to former presidents.”
Former presidents usually receive intelligence briefings long after leaving office.
REVENGE MISSION
In 2021, Biden ended intelligence briefings to Trump after the then-ex-president was accused of inciting the January 6 insurrection.
Biden had pointed at Trump’s “erratic behaviour” as the reason for the revocation.
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“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings. 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?” Biden had said.
Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance is the latest in a revenge tour of Washington as promised during his campaign.
The president has revoked the security clearance of some ex-federal government officials who criticised him — including Anthony Fauci, a former infectious disease expert; and Mike Pompeo, his former secretary of state.
