Former President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, stating he does not trust his predecessor with classified information.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referenced Biden’s own decision in 2021 to block him from receiving intelligence briefings, citing “erratic behavior” at the time. Now, Trump, 78, is using the same justification against Biden.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote. “He set this precedent in 2021 when he instructed the Intelligence Community to stop the 45th president of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on national security.”
When asked by The Post why he made the decision, Trump responded bluntly: “Because I don’t trust him. He’s not worthy of trust … To safeguard national security.”
Security concerns and political tensions
Ex-presidents traditionally retain access to intelligence briefings as a courtesy, allowing them to provide advice on national security matters if consulted by the sitting president. However, this practice is not a legal requirement and can be revoked at the discretion of the current administration.
Biden, 82, blocked Trump from receiving briefings shortly after taking office, arguing that his predecessor posed a security risk. “What value is giving him an intelligence briefing?” Biden told CBS News at the time. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Trump also pointed to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, which described the president as having a “poor memory.” Trump used this finding as further justification 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. He ended his statement with a sharp jab: “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.”
When asked if the Justice Department should investigate Biden’s handling of classified material, Trump said he wouldn’t push for it but added, “If something comes up, he’s certainly prime time for investigation.”