Trump Revokes Security Clearances For Hilary Clinton, Kamala Harris/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has revoked security clearances for multiple political rivals, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Hillary Clinton, citing national security concerns. A White House memo states they will no longer have access to classified information or secure facilities. The move follows Trump’s decision to strip Secret Service protection from Hunter and Ashley Biden.
Trump Clearance Revocations: Quick Looks
- Trump revoked security clearances for Biden, Harris, Clinton, and others
- Memo says access “no longer in the national interest”
- Includes revocations for 16 named individuals and Biden family members
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard confirmed earlier removal of access for some
- Former President Biden also no longer receives daily intelligence briefings
- Unescorted access to secure U.S. facilities has been rescinded
- Hunter and Ashley Biden also stripped of Secret Service protection
- Critics dismissed the move on social media; some mocked the announcement
Trump Revokes Security Clearances For Hilary Clinton, Kamala Harris
Deep Look
Trump Strips Security Clearances From Top Critics, Including Biden, Harris, and Clinton
President Donald Trump has ordered the revocation of security clearances for several prominent political opponents, including President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a memo released by the White House on Friday.
The memorandum, signed by Trump, declared that continued access to classified information by those listed was “no longer in the national interest.” The directive also removes their unescorted access to secure U.S. government facilities.
The list includes a broad array of former officials, critics, and political adversaries: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, legal analysts Mark Zaid and Norman Eisen, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, former Congress members Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, former National Security Council officials Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman, and the entire Biden family.
DNI Confirmed Prior Revocations
Earlier this month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that several of these individuals had already been stripped of clearances. She also stated that the 51 former intelligence officials who signed a public letter in 2020 suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop story bore signs of a “Russian disinformation campaign” had also lost their clearances.
“The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden,” Gabbard confirmed.
Secret Service Protection Also Ended
The clearance memo follows Trump’s separate decision earlier in the week to end Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the adult children of President Biden. Trump criticized the scale of their security details, calling it a misuse of taxpayer funds.
“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer. There are as many as 18 people on this Detail, which is ridiculous,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden… will be taken off the list.”
Federal law grants former presidents and their spouses lifetime protection, but that guarantee doesn’t automatically extend to adult children once they leave office. Both Trump and Biden had extended Secret Service protection to their children before leaving office, but Trump has now reversed that for the Bidens.
Response From Critics
Reaction to the clearance revocations was swift on social media. Attorney Mark Zaid and legal analyst Norman Eisen noted it was not the first time their clearances had been revoked, with Eisen calling it “laughable.”
Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican congressman and January 6 committee member, released a video mocking the move.
“I retired a year ago from the military,” he said, “I don’t have a clearance. The president is a dumb—.”
Critics argue that Trump’s decision is politically motivated and targets individuals involved in investigations or public criticism of his administration. Those on the list have previously been linked to impeachment proceedings, federal probes, or vocal opposition to Trump’s policies and conduct in office.
Despite backlash, Trump’s allies have praised the decision as a move to “restore national security integrity” and prevent the misuse of classified material by political rivals.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.