PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is revoking former President Joe Biden’s access to classified government information and halting his intelligence briefings, citing it as a response to Biden’s decision to do the same to him in 2021.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform shortly after arriving at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach for the weekend.
“There is no reason for Joe Biden to continue receiving classified intelligence. Therefore, we are immediately revoking his security clearances and discontinuing his daily briefings,” Trump wrote. He added that Biden “set this precedent” in 2021 when he ordered the Intelligence Community (IC) to deny Trump, the 45th president, access to national security details—something traditionally extended as a courtesy to former presidents.
The move is part of what Trump has described as a campaign of retribution in Washington. He has already revoked security clearances for more than 50 former intelligence officials who, in 2020, signed a letter suggesting that the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop resembled a “Russian disinformation operation.” Trump has also withdrawn security details from former government officials who have criticized him, including his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo—who faces threats from Iran—and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former infectious disease expert.
The Biden administration has yet to respond to Trump’s decision.
Biden previously revoked Trump’s access to intelligence briefings following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which Trump was accused of inciting in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. At the time, Biden justified the decision by questioning Trump’s “erratic” behavior.
In an interview with CBS News, Biden expressed concern over Trump receiving classified briefings, stating, “I just don’t see the need for him to have intelligence briefings. What purpose does it serve? What influence does he have, aside from the possibility of slipping up and revealing something?”
In 2022, federal agents searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and recovered numerous classified documents. He was later indicted on multiple felony counts for unlawfully retaining sensitive records and obstructing federal efforts to retrieve them. Trump pleaded not guilty, and the charges were ultimately dismissed when a judge ruled that the special counsel handling the case had been illegally appointed. The Justice Department dropped further appeals after Trump’s victory in the November election.
In his post, Trump cited Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, which did not recommend criminal charges but was highly critical of Biden’s memory. The report described Biden’s recollection as “hazy,” “faulty,” and “poor,” noting that he struggled to recall key moments in his life, such as when his son Beau passed away or when he served as vice president.
Trump concluded his statement with a direct message to Biden: “I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, echoed the sentiment by sharing Trump’s post on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “Hit the road, Jack, and don’t you come back no more!”
