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Key takeaways from this story:
In a significant political move, President Donald Trump has announced that he is revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearances, as well as his access to intelligence briefings. Trump made the declaration via a post on Truth Social, where he stated there was "no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information." He argued that Biden set a precedent in 2021 when he revoked Trump's access shortly after taking office, a decision which came in the wake of concerns regarding Trump's "erratic behavior", specifically in relation to the events surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot.
Trump's announcement has been met with skepticism, as it appears to stem from a pattern of retaliatory measures against perceived adversaries. He elaborated that the Hur Report, which investigated Biden’s handling of classified materials, described the former president’s memory as "poor" and cast doubt on his ability to handle sensitive information. Trump echoed these claims in his social media post: "The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from 'poor memory' and, even in his 'prime,' could not be trusted with sensitive information," emphasizing his commitment to national security.
Despite traditional courtesies extended to former presidents regarding intelligence briefings, this latest action reinforces Trump's controversial practice of reassessing such privileges based on political dynamics. Biden had earlier commented on Trump's access to intelligence briefings, questioning their value and expressing his belief that Trump could not be trusted with classified information, notably stating, "What value is giving him an intelligence briefing?"
Trump's latest move adds to a longer list of revocations he has made, which includes access for more than fifty former intelligence officials and former high-ranking officials who criticized him. This is part of a broader strategy where he has exerted control over former officials' access to sensitive information, particularly those who have openly challenged his administration's actions. As of now, Biden has not publicly responded to Trump's recent comments.
For further details, you can refer to the original articles on AP News and NPR.