Trump says he is pulling security clearances for people he does not 'respect'
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has revoked the security clearances of people he does not respect, which includes his political enemies.
"There are people that we donβt respect. If there are people that we thought that were breaking the law, that came very close to it in previous years, we do it. And weβve done it with some people," Trump told reporters, according to The Hill.
This comes after Trump on Friday pulled former President Joe Biden's security clearance and stopped his daily intelligence briefings.
'JOE, YOUβRE FIRED': PRESIDENT TRUMP REVOKES BIDEN'S SECURITY CLEARANCES, INTEL BRIEFINGS
"Weβve done it with Biden himself. Biden himself. We think our country is not as safe when you gave him clearance," Trump said on Sunday.
"We donβt think he knows what heβs doing and what heβs done to this country is a disgrace, and what heβs done in terms of allowing criminals, murderers, drug lords into our country, people from mental institutions into our country, he should be ashamed of himself," he added.
The president argued that there is no need for Biden to receive a security clearance or receive daily intelligence briefings.
He had cited former special counselΒ Robert HurβsΒ report last year into Bidenβs handling of classified materials. The report highlighted the former president's frequent memory lapses and led to increased scrutiny from Republicans about his mental fitness.
"There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information," Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. "Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Bidenβs Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings."
"He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on National Security, a courtesy provided to former Presidents," Trump's post continued. "The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from 'poor memory' and, even in his 'prime,' could not be trusted with sensitive information. I will always protect our National Security β JOE, YOUβRE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
TRUMP REMOVED ANTONY BLINKEN, LETITIA JAMES, ALVIN BRAGG'S SECURITY CLEARANCES, AMONG OTHERS
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Trump has also revoked the clearances of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
He also pulled Secret Service protection for his former national security adviser John Bolton last month and security protection for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, despite both men facing threats from Iran over their hawkish foreign policy positions towards the country.