In a shocking turn of events, President Joe Biden has been stripped of his access to daily intelligence briefings, a privilege traditionally granted to all former presidents. This decision was made by former President Donald Trump, who cited concerns over Biden’s trustworthiness with sensitive information ¹.
Trump’s move is part of his broader effort to distance his presidency from the previous administration and introduce what he calls “America’s golden age.” He has also revoked Biden’s security clearance, further limiting his access to classified information.
This decision is not without precedent, as Trump claims he was first excluded from intelligence briefings by Biden in 2021. Trump alleges that Biden set a new standard by preventing him from receiving national security updates, which had traditionally been offered to former presidents as a courtesy ¹.
Trump has also accused Biden of being unreliable with confidential matters, referencing investigations into Biden’s handling of sensitive files and attributing issues to the President’s alleged memory lapses. Trump wrote, “The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information” ¹.
Biden had previously justified his decision to bar Trump from briefings due to perceived “erratic behavior,” querying the value of providing such information to someone he felt lacked discretion. Biden reportedly expressed concern about the possibility of Trump inadvertently leaking information ¹.
Trump’s revocation of security clearances extends beyond Biden, with several former CIA directors and ex-intelligence officials also losing access. Among these is Mark Milley, a top-ranking US military official known for his critical stance against Trump ¹.
The implications of this decision are far-reaching, with many questioning the politicization of intelligence briefings and the potential consequences for national security. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the intersection of politics and national security is a complex and often contentious arena.
