Trump Blocks Harris, Clinton, Others’ Access To Classified Materials, Revokes Security Clearances

The New Diplomat
Writer

Ad

Nigeria’s FX Reserves Surge to $41bn Under Tinubu, But Still Lower Than Obasanjo’s $67bn

By Abiola Olawale Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) reserves have reached a 44-month high, climbing to $41 billion as of August 19, 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to recent data from the CBN, this milestone reflects a steady accumulation driven by strategic economic reforms, increased oil production, and enhanced…

Trump slaps sanctions on Canadian International Criminal Court judge

The Trump administration slapped a Canadian judge on the International Criminal Court with sanctions as the U.S. State Department continues to push back on the tribunal. The State Department said Wednesday that Kimberly Prost was sanctioned for “ruling to authorize the ICC’s investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.” The ICC website says Prost has been…

Reprieve as Trump’s half-billion-dollar civil fraud penalty is voided by court

By Obinna Uballa A New York state appeals court on Thursday overturned a civil fraud penalty of more than $500 million imposed on President Donald Trump, ruling that the monetary sanction violated the U.S. Constitution. The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court held that the fine—initially set at $454 million and now…

Ad

By Kolawole Ojebisi

President Donald Trump has remained relentless in taking flurry of executive decisions that will put those considered as political adversaries out of the loop concerning the running of his administration

This is as the US president directed federal agencies to revoke the security clearances of over a dozen individuals including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The directive, given late-night on Friday and outlined in a memo, stated that it was no longer in the national interest for these individuals to access classified information, CNN reported.

Trump instructed all relevant government agencies to take the necessary steps to revoke any active security clearances they held and to immediately block their access to classified materials.

The action also applied to individuals who had held positions in Congress, including several from previous administrations who had access to sensitive information during their tenures.

“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information.

“I hereby direct every executive department and agency head to take all additional action as necessary and consistent with existing law to revoke any active security clearances held by the aforementioned individuals and to immediately rescind their access to classified information,” Trump said in the memo.

The memo followed a broader pattern of Trump withdrawing security clearances from political opponents, a tactic he used earlier this year when he stripped former President Joe Biden of his clearance and halted his daily intelligence briefings.

Additionally, the memo confirmed the cancellation of clearances for key figures involved in the investigation of the January 6, 2021, insurrection, including former Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House committee that investigated Trump’s role in the attack on the Capitol.

According to CNN, earlier this month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that, in line with Trump’s directives, she had revoked security clearances for several individuals named in the memo.

This included top Biden administration officials such as former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, as well as prominent legal figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who have pursued legal actions against Trump.

In a separate memo issued the same evening, Trump expanded his crackdown on the legal community, focusing on attorneys and law firms that have opposed his administration.

He instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the actions of these legal entities, particularly those who filed what he considered frivolous lawsuits or challenged his immigration policies.

Ad

X whatsapp