US President Donald Trump revoked the security clearances of several high-profile political figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others.
The Republican president, who had previously defeated Clinton in the 2016 election and Harris in the 2020 election, continued his ongoing campaign against Democratic opponents.
Trump issued a late-night memorandum stating, “I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.” This move also affected former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had served under the Biden administration.
The decision to revoke the security clearances came just hours after Trump arrived at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf property for the weekend. Despite the revocations not having immediate effects, they served as a stark indication of the widening political divide in Washington, with Trump seemingly seeking revenge on those he perceived as his adversaries.
The memorandum targeted not only prominent Democrats but also Republicans critical of Trump. Former Representative Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of the president, saw her clearance revoked, alongside former Biden White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Fiona Hill, a Russia expert who had served on Trump's National Security Council during his first term.
Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer in Washington representing whistleblowers, and Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican lawmaker known for his strong opposition to Trump, were also among those affected by the revocation.
Trump’s latest action followed his earlier decision to revoke the security clearance of former President Joe Biden, effectively denying Biden access to the traditional intelligence briefings that former presidents typically receive. These briefings are provided to assist former presidents in advising their successors on matters of national security and foreign policy.
In 2021, President Biden had similarly revoked Trump’s security clearance, continuing the cycle of political retribution.
