President Donald Trump has intensified his efforts to revoke security clearances from those he considers political adversaries or who misused their power, expanding restrictions to include former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several high-profile Democrats and legal officials. This decision bars them from accessing classified information and federal facilities, further escalating political tensions.
Trump’s latest actions follow his recent move to strip President Joe Biden of his security clearances and access to secure government buildings, citing a lack of trust in his predecessor, according to multiple reports.
In a recent interview, noted The New York Post, Trump confirmed that Blinken—whom he accuses of orchestrating the controversial “Dirty 51” letter that dismissed reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop as Russian disinformation—would face the same restrictions. “Bad guy. Take away his passes,” Trump said of Blinken, portraying the decision as part of his broader initiative to hold officials accountable for what he characterizes as election interference and the mishandling of classified intelligence.
During the 2020 campaign, security officials signed a letter lying that Hunter Biden’s laptop, which revealed the Biden Family’s apparent corruption and selling of influence, was “Russian misinformation.” An investigation later revealed that the officials, including the former Secretary of State, made up the story to drag Biden over the finish line.
The directive extends beyond Blinken to key legal officials involved in legal proceedings against Trump. Among them are New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led a civil fraud case against him, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted him in the high-profile “hush money” trial. While largely symbolic, these restrictions could create logistical challenges by barring these officials from entering federal buildings, including courthouses, law enforcement agencies, and FBI offices. In New York City, this includes the Southern and Eastern Districts’ U.S. Attorney’s offices, the Thurgood Marshall and Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouses, and the Jacob Javits Federal Building.
Reuters reported that Trump’s security clearance crackdown also extends to senior Biden administration officials and long-standing critics. Among those affected is National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, a key architect of the disastrous Democratic foreign policy since Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, whom Trump accuses of spearheading investigations against him during the Biden and Obama administrations, is also on the list. Legal figures involved in past Trump investigations, including Andrew Weissmann, a lead prosecutor in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, and Mark Zaid, the attorney who represented the whistleblower at the center of Trump’s first impeachment, are also included. Norm Eisen, who served as special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings, has likewise been targeted.
The move reflects Trump’s broader efforts to reshape the federal government, particularly within law enforcement and intelligence agencies. While critics argue that revoking security clearances amounts to political retribution, Trump and his allies contend that such actions are necessary to address what they perceive as systemic abuses of power.
The revocation of Biden’s security clearances—an unprecedented move against a former president—signals Trump’s willingness to break with tradition. He defended the decision by questioning Biden’s trustworthiness with sensitive intelligence. “I don’t trust him. He’s not worthy of trust,” Trump stated, suggesting that additional measures could be forthcoming. While denying any immediate plans to launch an investigation into Biden, he left the door open for future inquiries. “If something comes up, he’s certainly prime time for investigation,” Trump added.
The former president has been tied to shady dealings in China and Ukraine. His son, to whom he gave a blanket pardon, was accused of having given classified documents to business contacts in Ukraine, as well.
