A DBUNK subscriber submitted a request to fact-check a recent BBC article claiming that Donald Trump announced he was revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance and daily intelligence access. The article also states that this decision was based on Biden’s prior move to block Trump’s intelligence briefings in 2021.
What’s True?
It is accurate that President Biden, in 2021, revoked Trump’s access to intelligence briefings, an unprecedented move justified on concerns about his behavior. Trump has now claimed he is following Biden’s precedent by revoking Biden’s security clearance.
Misleading and Missing Context
The BBC article presents Trump’s claim at face value, but there is no official evidence that Joe Biden still had an active security clearance requiring revocation. Former presidents do not automatically retain access to classified intelligence. Unlike Trump, Biden has not requested intelligence briefings post-presidency, meaning this “revocation” may be symbolic rather than functional.
Further, the article states that Biden “set this precedent,” implying Trump’s action is a direct response. However, removing an intelligence briefing privilege from a former president for national security concerns is different from stripping a former president’s clearance retroactively when they no longer hold security responsibilities.
Security Clearance Stripping vs. Political Retaliation
The article implies that Trump’s national security decisions, such as removing security clearances from multiple former intelligence officials and military leaders, are straightforward policy steps. However, the removal of protections for critics, including General Mark Milley and Anthony Fauci, raises concerns about whether these actions are based on security risks or political vendettas.
Security reviews typically involve intelligence community assessments, not unilateral presidential decisions. The Biden administration revoked Trump’s access based on consultations with intelligence officials. The article does not clarify whether Trump’s removals followed a similar process or were simply personal decisions.
Does Revoking Clearances Make America Safer?
A user asked whether Trump’s security clearance revocations help national security or are attacks on personal rivals. The answer depends on who is being targeted and why. In cases where officials were deemed security risks, removal might align with standard protocol. But when political opponents are stripped of protections, it suggests retaliation rather than sound security policy.
The Verdict
The article lacks critical context on how security clearances work and the distinction between Biden’s 2021 move and Trump’s 2025 decision. While it correctly reports Trump’s claims, it does not challenge or verify whether Biden still had an active clearance. It also does not explore the motivations behind Trump’s broader security clearance revocations.
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