Shortly after taking the oath of office today, President Donald Trump is set to revoke the security clearances of 51 former intelligence officials who signed a controversial 2020 letter suggesting that emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop bore the “classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
This move, part of Trump’s sweeping Day 1 agenda, signals his intent to challenge what he has called the “intelligence apparatus” and hold accountable those who contributed to the “Russia collusion hoax.”
The security clearance revocations are just one aspect of Trump’s ambitious first day back in office.
Sources close to the administration report that the president plans to sign approximately 200 executive actions, including:
- Declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border,
- Issuing pardons related to the January 6th Capitol riot,
- Temporarily suspending the TikTok ban,
- Increasing domestic fossil fuel production,
- Reducing civil service protections to reshape the federal workforce.
READ: Trump Will Reportedly Declare Energy Emergency To Roll Back Biden Policies
“We’re going to take bold, decisive action to secure our borders, restore our economy, and put America back on the right track,” Trump declared during his inauguration-eve rally at Capital One Arena. “By the time the sun sets today, our country will be moving in the right direction again.”
Revoking the security clearances of the former intelligence officials is a symbolic yet pointed effort by Trump to dismantle what he has frequently labeled as the “deep state.”
The officials in question, including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan, were widely criticized by Trump supporters for their role in downplaying the Hunter Biden laptop scandal during the 2020 election.
READ: President Trump’s First Day: Sweeping Executive Actions And Policy Reversals Planned
Emails published by The New York Post in October 2020 revealed potential conflicts of interest involving Hunter Biden and his father, then-candidate Joe Biden. The now-discredited letter signed by the 51 officials cast doubt on the laptop’s authenticity, which Trump and his allies believe influenced the election’s outcome.
Trump’s pick for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, reportedly championed the clearance revocations during his confirmation hearing last week. “This is about accountability,” Ratcliffe stated. “The American people deserve the truth, and those who engaged in deception must be held responsible.”
In addition to today’s executive actions, the Trump administration is preparing for a week of sweeping policy changes, including revamping Biden-era climate policies, rolling back corporate regulations, and bolstering border security with increased military involvement.
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