Staff Reports
The political stage in America is nothing if not vibrant, and recent actions by Donald Trump have added a new layer of drama to this ongoing spectacle. The former president has officially yanked the security clearances of several high-profile Democrats, demonstrating that when it comes to political feuds, he plays to win. The unfortunate recipients of this security clearance pull include none other than Joe Biden, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and the ever-controversial former Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
At first glance, one might think this is simply the former president’s way of getting back at individuals who have been steadfast in their opposition to him. After all, Biden has taken numerous potshots at Trump during his presidency, while James and Bragg have made headlines for their dubious legal pursuits against him. However, it would be naïve to overlook the fact that Trump isn’t the one who ignited this spark. That honor belongs to none other than the current occupant of the Oval Office—Biden himself.
Elections have consequences.
One day after Trump revoked the security clearance for Joe Biden, stopping his access to daily intelligence briefings,
he adds
Antony Blinken, then New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. pic.twitter.com/WsCkrOYHGB— Tosca Austen (@ToscaAusten) February 9, 2025
The opening act of this political saga kicked off when Trump announced, via social media, his decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance, stating that there was no justification for the former vice president to access classified materials. Trump highlighted Biden’s 2021 directive instructing the Intelligence Community to cut off his access to national security information. In traditional Trump fashion, he didn’t hold back, emphasizing Biden’s alleged memory issues and lack of reliability when it came to sensitive information. Thus, “Joe, you’re fired!” became the ringing endorsement of Trump’s commitment to safeguarding national security, making it abundantly clear that past presidents do not deserve a free pass.
But Trump was just warming up. Hot on the heels of revoking Biden’s clearance, he turned his sights on James, Bragg, and Blinken. In a discussion with the New York Post, Trump explained that his goal was to eliminate any rights these Democrats had to access classified information, which of course included preventing them from entering federal buildings. This move reflects the mindset that if they can take aim at him using the legal system, he will not hesitate to toss their access to sensitive information into the trash bin.
Letitia James and Alvin Bragg have been particularly keen on making a name for themselves by launching investigations and prosecutions against Trump that many view as little more than political witch hunts. Political analysts from both sides of the aisle have questioned the legitimacy of these cases, suggesting that they amount to little more than an elaborate game of political chess designed to undermine a rival. Meanwhile, Blinken, who has made headlines for his dubious connections to the Hunter Biden laptop saga, had Trump labeling him as “a bad guy” with questionable motives.
In a world where political battles are fought on the front lines of social media and courtrooms, Trump’s revocation of these security clearances serves as a wake-up call to Democrats. While they might have thought they could use the legal system as a weapon against him, Trump has reminded them that it can be a double-edged sword. If they don’t play nice, they’ll find themselves cut off from the secrets of the nation. And it appears that for Trump, this is just the beginning of holding accountable those who dared to cross him.
