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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn security clearances from Antony Blinken, the former Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, the former National Security Adviser, according to officials from the White House announced on Saturday.
This decision follows Trump’s announcement the previous day regarding the revocation of security clearance for Joe Biden, halting his access to essential intelligence briefings.
In addition to Blinken and Sullivan, Trump has also rescinded the security clearance of Lisa Monaco, who served as Deputy Attorney General and was instrumental in coordinating the Department of Justice’s response to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, the officials stated.
Furthermore, Trump has revoked the clearances held by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom have pursued legal actions against him.
Although these revocations may not produce immediate ramifications, they signify an intensifying divide within the political landscape of Washington. Traditionally, former presidents are granted intelligence briefings to aid them in offering counsel to their successors on matters of national security and foreign relations.
Back in 2021, President Biden had revoked security clearance for Trump, who was then out of office.
Recently, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also revoked the personal security detail and security clearance for General Mark Milley, a retired Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley served as the principal military officer during much of Trump’s presidency and became a prominent critic following his retirement as a four-star general in 2023 amid Biden’s administration.
It’s noteworthy that many diplomats from the Biden administration had engaged with Trump officials before he took office on critical issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Attempts to reach Blinken for comment were unsuccessful.
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