WASHINGTON, D.C. – US President Donald Trump has revoked security clearances from two prominent Democratic figures, Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, along with a host of former top officials.
The decision, announced in a presidential memorandum, also confirmed the earlier revocation of security clearance for former President Joe Biden and extended to several members of the Biden family.
“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information,” Trump’s memorandum read.
The list of individuals stripped of their clearances includes high-profile figures such as former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Republican lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both of whom have been outspoken critics of Trump.
Former presidents and senior officials traditionally retain security clearances as a courtesy, allowing them to offer insights or advice when needed.
Trump’s unprecedented move has drawn criticism from political opponents, who view it as a retaliatory act against those who have challenged or opposed his administration.
Among those affected are Fiona Hill, a former Russian affairs adviser during Trump’s first term, and a mix of current and former officials, including Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, and Alexander Vindman.
The decision follows a similar move in February, when Trump announced he was revoking Biden’s clearance, citing unspecified national security concerns.
Trump’s latest action also targets individuals such as Letitia James, the New York Attorney General leading legal battles against him, and Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who has investigated Trump’s business dealings.
This is not the first time Trump has used security clearance as a political weapon.
In 2020, he revoked the clearances of over four dozen former intelligence officials, accusing them of meddling in the election without providing evidence.
Critics argue that such moves undermine the apolitical nature of national security processes.
The revocations come against the backdrop of Trump’s contentious relationship with the intelligence community and his refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 election.
In 2021, Biden, then serving as president, denied Trump access to intelligence briefings, citing concerns about his “erratic behavior.”
