The recent political landscape has seen a significant shift as Joe Biden, the current President, has been stripped of a long-held privilege enjoyed by all former presidents.
This action was taken by the previous President, Donald Trump, who stated that Biden “could not be trusted.”
During his presidency, Trump aims to revise many policies from the previous administration and introduce what he terms “America’s golden age.”
Notably, he has decided to revoke Biden’s security clearance and his access to daily intelligence briefings. Trump has commented on his Truth Social platform, insisting, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information.”
Adding a personal touch, Trump referenced his famous catchphrase from the TV show The Apprentice by stating, “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.” This move to withdraw Biden’s privileges appears to be a part of a broader attempt to distance his presidency from the former administration.
This decision is not without precedent. Trump claims he was first excluded from intelligence briefings by Biden at the commencement of his presidency in 2021.
According to Trump, Biden set a new standard by preventing him, the 45th President, from receiving national security updates. Such briefings had traditionally been offered to former presidents as a courtesy.
Trump also accuses Biden of being unreliable with confidential matters, referencing investigations into Biden’s handling of sensitive files and attributing issues to the President’s alleged memory lapses.
Trump 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.”
Biden had previously justified his decision to bar Trump from briefings due to perceived “erratic behavior,” querying the value of providing such information to someone he felt lacked discretion. Biden reportedly expressed concern about the possibility of Trump inadvertently leaking information.
Trump’s revocation of security clearances extends beyond Biden. Several former CIA directors and numerous ex-intelligence officials have had their access removed under accusations of influencing the 2020 election in Biden’s favor.
Among these is Mark Milley, a top-ranking US military official known for his critical stance against Trump.
There has been a call to reassess Milley’s military grade, with recommendations made to the new defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, to investigate Milley’s “conduct.” This move aligns with Trump’s broader review and restructuring of his predecessor’s administration.
Additionally, Trump has removed access for Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor under Biden, despite Fauci’s prominent role during the coronavirus pandemic response.
Trump has defended these actions as “very standard,” arguing that such steps are necessary to maintain national security and focus on his governing priorities.