President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, former National Security Adviser, White House officials announced on Saturday.
This action came a day after Trump revoked the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, cutting off his access to daily intelligence briefings.
Trump also revoked the security clearances of Biden’s Deputy Attorney General, Lisa Monaco, who coordinated the Department of Justice’s response to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom led investigations against Trump.
While the revocations may not have immediate consequences, they underscore the deepening divide in Washington. Traditionally, former U.S. presidents receive intelligence briefings to advise the sitting president on national security and foreign policy.
In 2021, Biden had revoked Trump’s security clearance when he was a former president.
In a separate move, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month revoked the personal security detail and clearance of retired Army General Mark Milley, who became one of Trump’s vocal critics after retiring as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2023 under Biden’s administration.
Blinken was unavailable for immediate comment.
