Trump Revokes Joe Biden's Security Clearance

Above: Joe Biden (L) and Donald Trump at the White House on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Win McNamee/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • US Pres. Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is revoking former Pres. Joe Biden's security clearance and stopping his daily intelligence briefings.

  • In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said: "I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU'RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

  • The decision mirrors Biden's 2021 action when he blocked Trump from receiving intelligence briefings, citing concerns about Trump's alleged "erratic behavior" following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.


The Spin

Republican narrative

There's no need for Biden to continue receiving access to classified information, especially given the deterioration of his mental faculties and memory and his failure to recall defining milestones in his life when he served as vice president. This step is necessary to protect national security, as he couldn't be trusted with sensitive data.


Democratic narrative

Trump's move is the latest in a vengeance tour of Washington and highlights a pattern of political retaliation against high-profile figures who have criticized him. It undermines the longstanding tradition of bipartisan cooperation on national security matters and serves no practical purpose other than to satisfy personal grievances.



Metaculus Prediction



Public Figures


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

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