Security Clearances Denied

(According to Gemini AI):
During Donald Trump's presidential terms, his administration announced actions to revoke or rescind security clearances for numerous prominent political figures, former cabinet officials, and national security experts.

The actions generally targeted political adversaries, former intelligence officials, and individuals involved in investigations or public statements critical of the administration.

Actions Taken in 2025March 2025 Memorandum
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In March 2025, President Trump issued a executive memorandum revoking security clearances and access to classified briefings for prominent political figures and opponents:

• Joe Biden (Former U.S. President)
• Kamala Harris (Former U.S. Vice President)
• Hillary Clinton (Former Secretary of State)
• Antony Blinken (Former Secretary of State)
• Liz Cheney (Former U.S. Representative)
• Adam Kinzinger (Former U.S. Representative)
• Letitia James (New York Attorney General)
• Chris Krebs (Former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)

August 2025 Action (Director of National Intelligence)
In August 2025, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that the administration was revoking security clearances for 37 current and former U.S. national security officials. The administration stated these revocations were aimed at individuals accused of politicizing intelligence or involved in prior public statements related to political topics (including signers of past public letters).


Actions Taken During First Term (2017–2021)Formal Revocations

• John Brennan (Former Director of the CIA): His security clearance was formally revoked in August 2018.
  
  
  

Targeted Officials & Threatened Revocations
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In July and August 2018, the Trump administration announced it was evaluating or actively reviewing the security clearances of several high-profile critics:

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  James Clapper (Former Director of National Intelligence)
• James Comey (Former FBI Director — Note: FBI policy had already deactivated his clearance upon termination)
• Michael Hayden (Former CIA Director and NSA Director)
• Andrew McCabe (Former Deputy FBI Director — Note: Clearance was deactivated upon his termination)
• Susan Rice (Former National Security Advisor)
• Peter Strzok (Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent)
• Lisa Page (Former FBI Attorney)
• Bruce Ohr (Former Department of Justice official)