Trump To Suspend Clearances For Officials Says Report
Well, folks, here we are—Day 1 of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office, and he’s not wasting any time. Buckle up, because one of his first moves is set to send shockwaves through Washington: suspending the security clearances of the 51 intelligence officials who claimed, back in 2020, that Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop had “the classic earmarks” of Russian disinformation. You heard that right. The so-called “Spies Who Lie” are about to find their clearances revoked as part of a sweeping slate of executive orders Trump is planning to sign right out of the gate.
Now, let’s rewind for a second. You remember the laptop, right? It’s the one that exploded onto the scene in 2020 with a treasure trove of allegations about Hunter Biden—everything from shady foreign business dealings to drug use and, well, let’s just say other “lurid” activities. This wasn’t just some internet conspiracy theory, folks.
Emails on that laptop, later verified by federal authorities, even revealed that Hunter had introduced his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, to a Ukrainian energy executive. And yet, despite all this, a group of former intelligence officials rushed to publish a letter suggesting the story had all the markings of—you guessed it—Russian disinformation. Their reasoning? Let’s just say it was a little light on evidence and heavy on speculation.
And THERE IT IS: “Trump to suspend security clearances for the 51 national security officials ‘who lied about Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 presidential election.’”
More here: https://t.co/V8sjh2zLwV
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) January 19, 2025
Fast forward to today, and it turns out the laptop was very much real. Federal prosecutors, whistleblowers, and even the FBI itself have confirmed its authenticity. But those 51 intelligence officials? Many of them still stand by their claims or refuse to comment, sticking to the script that their letter was merely a “warning” about foreign interference.
One lawyer even went so far as to say, “Every patriotic American should have signed that letter.” Patriotic, huh? That’s an interesting way to describe misleading the public during a pivotal election.
Enter Trump. According to reports, he’s done playing games. His incoming administration has made it clear: these officials, whom they see as part of a broader effort to suppress legitimate reporting on Hunter Biden, will no longer enjoy the privilege of a security clearance. And let’s be real, it’s hard to argue that someone who dismissed verified evidence as disinformation should have access to sensitive intelligence.
This move is part of what’s shaping up to be a whirlwind of executive orders—over 200 of them, according to a senior Trump official. While some might call it overkill, Trump’s team is framing it as a necessary course correction after what they see as years of partisan interference in government institutions.
Whether or not you agree with his methods, you can’t deny the message: the days of weaponizing intelligence for political convenience are over—at least in Trump’s White House.