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Trump Cancels Security Clearances for Harris, Clinton, and Other Prominent Democrats


The president has also revoked security clearances for the entire family of his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

On Friday, President Donald Trump revoked security clearances for over 15 notable political figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“I have determined that allowing the following individuals access to classified information is no longer in the national interest,” Trump mentioned in his presidential memo.
Previously, Trump had announced his plans to revoke the security clearances for former President Joe Biden and several officials from the previous administration. The recent memo solidifies that decision.

In addition to Harris and Clinton, Trump also rescinded security clearances for former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Biden’s entire family.

The revocation list includes former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, all of whom have participated in legal actions against Trump.

Trump further revoked security clearances for former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger—both Republicans who were members of the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Others on the list include retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill, former U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic Norman Eisen, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, and lawyer Mark Zaid.

In his memo, Trump instructed heads of executive departments and agencies to terminate access to classified information for the individuals listed.

This order affects classified briefings as well as any access to classified information these individuals might have held owing to their past roles in Congress.

“I also direct all heads of executive departments and agencies to revoke unescorted access to secure United States Government facilities for these individuals,” he noted.

Trump stated last month that his decision to revoke Biden’s security clearances was influenced by Biden’s earlier actions and the findings of special counsel Robert Hur, who probed Biden’s supposed mishandling of classified information.
“There’s no necessity for Joe Biden to keep receiving access to classified information,” he asserted on Truth Social. “He established this precedent in 2021 when he directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to deny the 45th President of the United States (ME!) access to National Security details, a courtesy typically extended to former Presidents.”

Upon assuming office in 2021, Biden rescinded Trump’s access to intelligence briefings, referencing the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump was subsequently impeached by the House of Representatives and acquitted by the Senate.

Traditionally, former presidents receive courtesy access to classified information at the highest levels, including daily intelligence briefings, which equip them to stay informed on national security matters and provide guidance to the current president when requested.

While few former presidents have requested such briefings, the late President George H.W. Bush—who served as director of the CIA during Gerald R. Ford’s administration—was known to utilize this benefit.

After his inauguration on January 20, Trump revoked the security clearances of former national security adviser John Bolton and 49 former U.S. intelligence officials who had signed a letter discrediting credible claims about emails discovered on Hunter Biden’s laptop.

These former intelligence officials were accused of engaging in partisan politics by dismissing the reports ahead of the 2020 election, while the actions against Bolton were tied to the publication of his memoir, which the Trump administration alleged posed “a severe risk” of revealing classified material.

Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on January 28 revoked the security clearance and personal security detail for retired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who held the highest military rank in the nation during Trump’s first term.

Contributions to this report were made by Arjun Singh, Melanie Sun, and Zachary Stieber.



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