By Titilope Adako

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, revoked the security clearances of his predecessor Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and several senior former White House and national security officials.

The list includes Biden’s family members, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan.

Also affected is former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of Trump.

In a memorandum to agency heads, Trump ordered the immediate revocation of their access to classified materials and unescorted entry to secure government facilities.

“I hereby direct every executive department and agency head … to revoke any active security clearances held by the aforementioned individuals,” Trump stated.

Trump’s directive also applies to individuals such as Fiona Hill, a British-born intelligence analyst who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and Alexander Vindman, a retired U.S. Army officer who criticised Trump’s handling of Russia-related matters.

Justifying the decision, Trump said, “It is my responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information from improper access and distribution. Given the conduct of these individuals, it is in the best interest of national security to revoke their security clearances.”

Traditionally, former U.S. presidents and national security officials retain security clearances as a courtesy and for potential consulting roles.

However, Trump, who continues to claim without evidence that Biden stole the 2020 election, has taken steps to limit his predecessor’s access.

A White House official, speaking anonymously, said, “This is about ensuring that only those who are actively serving the administration and the country have access to sensitive information.”

Trump himself faced scrutiny for storing classified White House documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort but was cleared after returning to office.

In response, a spokesperson for the Biden administration criticised the move, stating, “This is a politically motivated decision that undermines the norms of governance in the United States. The President is using security clearances as a tool for political retribution.”

Meanwhile, Clinton dismissed the action, saying, “This is yet another distraction from the real issues facing Americans. It’s clear this administration is more focused on settling scores than governing.”

Cheney also reacted, stating, “Trump continues to target those who stood up to him and defended democracy. This is about revenge, not national security.”

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