Will Joe Biden cut off Trump's access to intelligence briefings? Outgoing president 'remains a security threat'
One of the questions that have popped up as President-elect Joe Biden gears up to become the 46th President of the USA, is if he will share classified information with his predecessor, Donald Trump. A Daily Mail report quoted Biden's aide saying he "would consult his intelligence advisers before he makes a call" – Ron Klain, the incoming White House chief of staff made this statement following former principal deputy director of national intelligence, Sue Gordon's op-ed.
Washington Post carried an op-ed where Gordon said, "With this simple act — which is solely the new president's prerogative — Joe Biden can mitigate one aspect of the potential national security risk posed by Donald Trump, private citizen." The article was headlined: "A former president Trump won't 'need to know.' Cut off his intelligence." The Daily Mail report said this is a conversation bound to happen as Trump departs with quite some knowledge concerning intelligence assets.
Keeping in mind Gordon's views, Klain while talking to CNN's 'State of the Union' explained that Biden would consider listening from his own intelligence pros before zeroing in on a decision. 'We'll certainly look for a recommendation from the intelligence professionals in the Biden administration ... and we will act on that recommendation,' he said.
Gordon opined that Trump would be "unusually vulnerable to bad actors with ill intent," among other former presidents who would be foreign intelligence targets. In her op-ed, she also wrote: 'It is not clear that he understands the tradecraft to which he has been exposed, the reasons the knowledge he has acquired must be protected from disclosure, or the intentions and capabilities of adversaries."
"Trump has significant business entanglements that involve foreign entities. Many of these current business relationships are in parts of the world that are vulnerable to intelligence services from other nation-states. And it is not clear that he understands the tradecraft to which he has been exposed, the reasons the knowledge he has acquired must be protected from disclosure, or the intentions and capabilities of adversaries and competitors who will use any means to advance their interests at the expense of ours." she reckoned.
As far as second opinions went, Adam Schiff, the Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman was pretty straightforward saying, "I don't think he (Trump) can be trusted with it," while talking on CBS's 'Face the Nation.'
"Donald Trump should never receive another intelligence briefing— not now, and not in the future. He cannot be trusted and has done enough damage to our country already. Trump remains a security threat, and will continue to be a security threat long after he leaves office," he said.
These discussion points come in after Trump came under intense flak since the time his supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to prevent Congress from confirming Biden's election win. The outgoing President denied any responsibility for the riots after he encouraged his fans to march on the Capitol. A week later, he became the first President in US history to be impeached twice.