President Donald Trump has revealed his latest revenge move against predecessor Joe Biden.
The 78-year-old POTUS announced on Friday (February 7) that he is “immediately revoking” former President Joe Biden’s security clearances and access to daily intelligence briefings, stating that he doesn’t “trust” his predecessor with sensitive national security information.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that Biden set the precedent for this decision when he barred him from receiving intelligence briefings in 2021, citing concerns over Trump’s “erratic behavior”.
That decision was made in wake of the Jan 6. riots.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote in a post on his social platform, Truth Social. “Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings.”
The former president turned sitting commander-in-chief emphasized that this move was simply following the standard Biden had previously established.
“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,” Trump added.
Citing Biden’s Memory Issues
Trump also pointed to the findings of a recent federal investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents as another reason for his decision.
“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump wrote in his post, referencing the bombshell report from Special Counsel Robert Hur.
The investigation determined that Biden had “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials” from his time as vice president but was not charged with a crime. Hur suggested that jurors might see Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
Trump, never one to shy away from theatrics, ended his post with a nod to his famous Apprentice catchphrase: “I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump: ‘I Don’t Trust Him’
In comments to The New York Post, Trump made his reasoning even clearer.
“Because I don’t trust him. He’s not worthy of trust […] To safeguard national security,” he stated.
Traditionally, former presidents retain access to classified intelligence briefings to allow for continuity in case a sitting president needs their insight. However, this has always been a courtesy rather than a requirement.
Biden himself revoked Trump’s access to intelligence briefings after the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump was accused of inciting an attack on the Capitol following his election loss. At the time, Biden cited Trump’s “erratic” behavior as the justification for his decision.
“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden said in a CBS News interview at the time. “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?”
Could Biden Be Investigated?
When asked by The Post whether his Justice Department would consider investigating Biden over his handling of classified documents, Trump downplayed the possibility — but didn’t rule it out.
“I wouldn’t specifically,” he said. “If something comes up, he’s certainly prime time for investigation […] It’s not good what he did to our country.”
With tensions high between the current and former occupants of the White House, this latest move ensures the battle between Trump and Biden is far from over.
