Trump strips Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, others of security clearance

US President Donald Trump has revoked security clearances for several high-profile political figures, including past Democratic election rivals Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, as well as other former officials and outspoken critics.

Trump had previously announced in February that he was revoking security clearance for his predecessor, Joe Biden. His latest order not only confirmed that decision but also extended it to "any other member" of Biden’s family.

"I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information," Trump stated in his memorandum.

Traditionally, former presidents and senior security officials retain security clearances as a courtesy. However, Trump’s order instructed government agencies to strip the affected individuals of their ability to access classified briefings, such as the President’s Daily Brief, and prevent them from entering secure government facilities without an escort.

While losing access to classified materials may have a mostly symbolic effect on many of those named, for others, the decision could impact their ability to review materials or access government spaces. Lawyers and prosecutors included in the revocation may also face difficulties in handling cases requiring classified information.

Trump’s order targeted several top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. He also revoked clearances for two former members of his own administration—Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman—both of whom testified during his first impeachment trial in 2019.

Additionally, Trump took aim at prominent Republican critics, including former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. The pair had participated in the congressional investigation into Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and had voted to impeach him for inciting the riot. The Senate later acquitted Trump of the charge.

Legal opponents were also included in Trump’s revocations. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who pursued multiple lawsuits against Trump and his businesses, was stripped of her clearance. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who secured a criminal conviction against Trump in a hush money case, also lost access.

Other figures affected include Norm Eisen, an attorney involved in legal challenges against the Trump administration, and Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor who investigated Trump and later provided media commentary on his cases. Whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid was also listed among those losing access, though he claimed he had yet to receive official notification.

"Despite being told three times that my clearance has been revoked, I still have not received anything formally," Zaid told the BBC. He argued that losing his clearance would harm federal employees, including Trump supporters, who rely on him for legal representation.

Several individuals publicly dismissed Trump’s order. "I don't care what noises Donald Trump makes about a security clearance that hasn't been active for five years," Vindman wrote on social media. Eisen responded by saying, "Just makes me file even more lawsuits!"

Trump had previously revoked the clearances of over 50 former intelligence officials, accusing them of interfering in the 2020 election in favor of Biden, though he did not provide evidence for his claims.

In a social media post, Trump justified his latest move by referencing Biden’s 2021 decision to bar him from intelligence briefings. At the time, Biden cited Trump’s "erratic behavior" as the reason for the restriction.

Biden himself faced scrutiny in a 2024 Justice Department report, which found he had improperly retained classified documents from his time as vice president. However, the report noted that Biden had cooperated with investigators and returned the documents.

Trump, in turn, faced legal challenges over his own handling of classified materials. In 2023, special prosecutor Jack Smith indicted him for allegedly mishandling classified documents and obstructing their return. Trump pleaded not guilty, and a federal judge dismissed the case in July 2024. Smith formally dropped the charges in December 2024 after Trump won re-election.