WASHINGTON:
On Friday, President Donald Trump revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance amid a wave of executive actions, intensifying efforts to reshape U.S. governance and foreign aid policies.
As part of his latest directives, Trump also halted aid to South Africa, the birthplace of his key supporter Elon Musk, and appointed himself as the head of the Kennedy Center, one of Washington’s most prestigious cultural institutions.
“There is no reason for Joe Biden to continue accessing classified information,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, announcing the immediate termination of Biden’s security clearance and intelligence briefings.
“JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” he added in capital letters.
Traditionally, former U.S. presidents retain the privilege of receiving intelligence briefings even after leaving office.
Additionally, Trump escalated his efforts against the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees global humanitarian aid distribution.
“Corruption is rampant. Shut it down!” he wrote on Truth Social, though he did not provide evidence to support his claim.
USAID has become a focal point in Trump’s broader push to reduce or dismantle sections of the federal government, a campaign backed by Musk, the world’s richest individual.
On Friday, Musk—who, along with Trump, has circulated misleading claims regarding USAID’s financial activities—shared images showing the removal of the agency’s signage from its Washington headquarters.
The Trump administration has suspended foreign aid, ordered thousands of USAID personnel stationed abroad to return home, and begun reducing its workforce from 10,000 employees to roughly 300.
Labor unions are challenging these measures, and a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave by the weekend.
