Trump Revokes Security Clearances for Political Rivals - Harris, Clinton, and Biden

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a late-night memo on Friday revoking security clearances for more than a dozen individuals, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President Joe Biden and his family.

The sweeping directive also targeted critics from both parties, marking a sharp departure from traditional norms around access to classified information for former officials.

“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information,” Trump stated in the memo, which directed executive agencies to revoke clearances and restrict access to secure government facilities.

The list includes high-profile figures such as New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and anti-Trump Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

The move follows Trump’s earlier revocation of Biden’s security clearance in February, citing concerns over intelligence briefings. Analysts view these actions as retaliatory steps against figures who have challenged Trump politically or legally.

Among those impacted are Fiona Hill, a Russia expert who testified during Trump’s impeachment hearings; Alexander Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel who also testified; and Jake Sullivan, Biden’s former national security adviser.

Legal experts have raised concerns about the constitutionality of such measures, suggesting they may infringe on First Amendment protections and due process rights. Critics argue that these actions represent an unprecedented weaponization of executive power against political opponents.

Traditionally, former presidents and senior officials retain security clearances to provide counsel on national security matters. Trump’s directive breaks with this norm, signaling a deepening political rift in Washington. National security lawyer Mark Zaid called the move “an affront to constitutional principles,” while NAACP President Derrick Johnson described it as “a deliberate dismantling of democratic norms”.

The revocations may not have immediate operational impacts but highlight growing polarization and Trump’s willingness to sideline critics in his second term. As legal challenges mount, this latest action underscores the contentious nature of his presidency and its implications for governance.