Trump rescinds security clearances of Biden and senior officials

Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Biden and Senior Officials

• U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his threat to revoke security clearances for his predecessor, Joe Biden, and several senior former White House and national security officials.
• The list of those stripped of access to classified information includes Biden, his family members, and former Vice President and Trump’s political rival, Kamala Harris.
• Also affected are former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan.
• In a memorandum issued to federal agencies, Trump directed officials to revoke the security clearances and unescorted access to government facilities for the named individuals.
• Traditionally, former presidents and national security officials retain security clearances, but Trump’s decision marks a break from this convention.
• Trump, who has repeatedly claimed without evidence that Biden manipulated the 2020 election, has maintained hostility toward his predecessor.
• Notably, Trump himself was investigated for security breaches related to classified White House documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate before returning to office.
• The revocation list also includes high-profile Democratic appointees, as well as Republican critic Liz Cheney.
• Intelligence analysts Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman, both of whom previously worked under Trump and expressed concerns about his administration's dealings with Russia, are also named.