Trump revokes security clearances of Biden and former White House officials
US President Donald Trump on Friday requested that the security clearances of his predecessor, Joe Biden, and several former senior White House officials be revoked.
The list of officials whose clearances were revoked included Biden, his family members, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretaries of State Antony Blinken and Hillary Clinton, and former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
In a memo to the heads of security agencies released by the White House press office, Trump said the officials in question should not be allowed to view classified material.
Trump ordered all heads of executive departments and agencies to revoke any valid security clearances held by the above-named individuals.
They were also asked to revoke the permits of these individuals to enter unescorted US government security facilities.
Former US presidents and national security officials typically hold security clearances as a courtesy, which entitle them to access state secrets.
Trump himself was investigated for violating security regulations between his first and second terms by keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence, but the investigation ended after he returned to office.
The list also included former Democratic officials, along with former Republican congresswoman and Trump opponent Liz Cheney.
