Trump revokes Biden’s security clearance in recent act of 'revenge'
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President strikes back after predecessor revoked his privileges following January 6 riots.
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President Donald Trump listens during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the East Room of the White House, on February 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced that he is revoking Joe Biden's security clearance and halting the daily intelligence briefings Biden has received. Trump framed the move as retaliation for a similar decision Biden made in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol attack.
In a post announcing the decision, Trump stated, “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s security clearances, and stopping his daily intelligence briefings.
“He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the intelligence community (IC) to stop the 45th president of the United States (me!) from accessing details on national security, a courtesy provided to former presidents.”
Traditionally, former presidents retain access to some intelligence briefings as a matter of courtesy. However, Biden ended Trump's briefings after accusing him of inciting the January 6 attack and attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
At the time, Biden described Trump’s behavior as “erratic” and suggested it posed a risk to national security. In a CBS News interview, Biden explained his rationale, "I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings.
Recent changes under Trump
Since taking office, Trump has made several legal changes. On Friday, Trump signed an executive order authorizing economic sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). He said that the court has taken "illegitimate and baseless actions" against the US and "Israel".
As per the order, the US president now has broad powers to freeze assets and impose travel bans on ICC staff and their families. The sanctions would be imposed if Washington determines that staff members are involved in efforts to investigate or prosecute Americans and some of the US's allies, including Israelis.
Trump claimed that the ICC has "abused its power" by issuing arrest warrants, which he believed "set a dangerous precedent." The US president said that the warrants endanger US citizens and US military personnel.
Earlier this month, he signed an executive order directing the Treasury and Commerce Departments to establish a US sovereign wealth fund, a move that could reshape federal asset management and potentially lead to the government purchasing TikTok.
The order instructed the agencies to develop the fund within the next 12 months, aiming to monetize government-owned assets for "the benefit of the American public."
"We're going to stand this thing up within the next 12 months. We're going to monetize the asset side of the US balance sheet for the American people," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters. He added that the fund would consist of a mix of liquid and domestic assets, with plans to bring them "out for the American people."
