Former U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted Joe Biden denying him access to daily intelligence briefings, essentially echoing Biden’s move towards him previously. Trump utilized his Truth Social platform to voice his disapproval, implying that Biden doesn’t require the classified information. Adding a touch of his personal flair from his reality TV days, Trump announced ‘JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,’ and closed his statement with his popular campaign phrase ‘MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.’
Earlier on, the Republican leader had revoked the security clearance of quite a few former intelligence officials. He accused them of mishandling the 2020 election, which he continues to label as ‘the greatest fraud in US history.’ He made these remarks last Friday evening, sparking a fresh wave of debate.
Trump was particularly critical of Biden’s actions in 2021, where he commanded the Intelligence Community to block him, the 45th President of the United States, from accessing vital National Security details usually provided to former heads of state. According to Biden, his move was justified due to Trump’s conduct leading up to the attacks on the Capitol.
The challenging precedent set by Biden provided Trump with the chance to respond in kind by denying him access to daily intelligence briefings. Still, Trump wishes to take it one step further. The former president is now applying pressure to completely revoke Biden’s security clearance.
Trump’s belief is that Biden is not a trustworthy custodian of sensitive information. His argument is backed by a past Justice Department inquiry into how Biden managed classified files during his tenure as vice president under Barack Obama.
A special counsel report by Robert Hur played a significant role in this narrative. The report noted that Biden had ‘willfully retained and disclosed classified materials.’ However, it declined to press charges against the former vice-president.
The reluctance to file charges stems from the understanding that Biden could not recall key life events such as his vice-presidential tenure and the year his son Beau tragically passed away. The report argued that attempting a trial would only lead to Biden coming across as ‘a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.’
Despite this sympathy, the report emphasized that keeping documents on foreign policy still presented serious risks to national security. This point is often invoked by critics who argue that his clearance should be immediately revoked.
This clash against Biden comes shortly after Trump initiated an executive order enacting sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). His justification was based on allegations of ‘illegitimate and baseless actions’ specifically targeting the U.S. and their close ally, Israel.
The order issued by Trump aims to impose financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who aid in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies. This is considered a bold move condemned by many in the international community.
Further, Trump’s order presents a stern warning against the ‘dangerous precedent’ set by the ICC. The former president believes that ICC’s recent actions have opened the door for American officials to be subjected to ‘harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.’
Trump’s aversion to the ICC has been an ongoing narrative. He has consistently criticised the court, resulting in the sanctioning of the ICC not only during his second term but also throughout his first stint as the president.
In the current political climate, these back-and-forth moves between Trump and Biden signify a widening divide within the nation. Their ongoing feud affects not just their individual public images but the nation’s perception of leadership as a whole.
This behavior sets a challenging precedent for future ex-presidents and current heads. An environment of ongoing retaliation and one-upmanship could hinder the healthy transition of power, an essential feature of democratic governance.
The debate around security clearances, the handling of classified information, and the influence of past administrations on the current intelligence community operations will likely continue to be contentious issues in U.S. politics.