World Blog by humble servant.Humble News on X Trump Axes Security Clearances of Harris, Clinton, Biden Family, and More: A Deep State Purge? March 22, 2025

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Trump Axes Security Clearances of Harris, Clinton, Biden Family, and More: A Deep State Purge?

March 22, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of over a dozen prominent figures from prior administrations, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Joe Biden and his family, and several top officials from Biden’s tenure. The move, formalized in a memorandum released Friday, March 21, 2025, also targets former Republican lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who investigated Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol events. Trump says it’s a matter of national interest—but is this a calculated strike against the so-called "deep state"?

The Details

The memorandum, issued from the White House, declares that these individuals no longer have a need—or the trustworthiness—to access classified information. Affected figures include former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ex-National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, alongside Biden’s inner circle. The order bars them from receiving the President’s Daily Brief, accessing intelligence community data, or entering secure government facilities without an escort. Trump has directed agency heads to enforce the revocations immediately.

This follows Trump’s February 2025 announcement rescinding Biden’s access to daily briefings, a decision he tied to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 report, which flagged Biden’s “poor memory” as a security risk. The latest move casts a wider net, hitting both Democratic heavyweights and a few GOP critics, signaling a broader agenda.

Deep State or Political Purge?

Trump’s supporters see this as a long-overdue purge of the "deep state"—a shadowy network of unelected insiders from past administrations accused of wielding influence to thwart his presidency. Harris, Clinton, and Biden, all former election rivals, have been vocal critics, while officials like Blinken and Sullivan shaped Biden’s policies, often at odds with Trump’s vision. Cheney and Kinzinger, once Republican allies, crossed party lines to probe Trump’s actions, earning his enduring ire.

The timing fuels the narrative. Biden, now 82, reportedly told Democrats on Friday he’s gearing up for a political comeback—fundraising and campaigning to reclaim ground lost in 2024. Revoking his family’s clearances, alongside those of his allies, could hobble such efforts, especially if classified insights were leveraged for strategy. Clinton’s email history and Harris’s tenure as VP under Biden only deepen suspicions among Trump’s base that these figures could leak sensitive info to undermine him.

“This is about stopping the leaks and sabotage from the old guard,” one X user posted Saturday, echoing a sentiment rippling across the platform. Another wrote, “Trump’s draining the swamp for real this time—no more deep state lifelines.”

Critics, however, call it a power grab dressed as reform. “He’s not eliminating the deep state; he’s building his own,” an NBC News analyst quipped, pointing to Trump’s simultaneous push for a Boeing contract dubbed “the most lethal aircraft ever.” Some American outlets frame the revocations as revenge against political foes, noting the inclusion of figures like New York AG Letitia James and DA Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump in prior years (assuming their names appeared in the full list).

Leaks and Reform at Stake

Leaks have haunted Trump’s orbit—think Russia probes, January 6 fallout, or Biden-era leaks about his legal woes. Stripping clearances could choke off ex-officials’ ability to feed classified tidbits to media or investigators, a move his team might argue protects national security. Yet it also silences voices that could shape reform debates—say, on intelligence oversight or military spending—leaving Trump’s crew unchallenged.

On reform, the picture’s murkier. If the "deep state" resists Trump’s agenda—think deregulation or his Boeing deal—this clears obstacles. But it might also freeze out experienced hands who’d push their own changes, like Harris’s economic plans or Biden’s climate goals. X users are split: some hail it as “reform for reform’s sake,” others see a loyalist takeover.

What’s Next?

The White House hasn’t detailed evidence of specific leaks or threats tied to these individuals, leaning instead on Trump’s “national interest” rationale. Affected parties haven’t publicly responded as of Saturday, though Biden’s reported comeback hints at defiance. Legal challenges could loom—ex-officials might argue the move oversteps executive discretion—but for now, Trump holds the reins.

On X, the chatter’s electric. “Finally, accountability for the elites,” one post reads. Another counters, “This is authoritarian, plain and simple.” As Trump reshapes Washington, the "deep state" debate rages on—whether he’s dismantling it or redefining it in his image.

Humble News on X will keep tracking this story. Follow for updates.