In a controversial move, President Donald Trump announced Friday night that he is “immediately revoking” former President Joe Biden’s security clearance and barring him from receiving intelligence briefings.

“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Trump justified the decision by pointing to Biden’s own actions in 2021 when he blocked Trump from receiving intelligence briefings after leaving office. At the time, Biden cited concerns over Trump’s “erratic behavior.”

“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden told CBS News in February 2021. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”

Traditionally, former presidents are granted access to intelligence briefings as a courtesy. However, Trump’s decision marks a significant departure from this practice and is likely to fuel further political tensions.

Trump also referenced findings from special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. The Hur report, which declined to bring charges against Biden, described the former president as having “poor memory” and suggested he could be perceived as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” if presented before a jury.

Beyond Biden, Trump has moved swiftly to revoke security clearances from several former intelligence officials and critics. Among those affected are former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and multiple intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter questioning the authenticity of Hunter Biden’s laptop, calling it a potential Russian disinformation effort.

The move is expected to spark debate over whether security clearances should be subject to political retaliation. Biden’s camp has yet to respond to Trump’s decision.

Credit: CBS News