Trump is reportedly eager to revoke more security clearances


Just like you can't eat only one potato chip, President Trump can't revoke just one security clearance.
Trump decided several weeks ago to strip former CIA Director John Brennan of his security clearance, two White House officials told The Washington Post on Thursday, though White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the announcement on Wednesday. The officials said he's told advisers he wants to revoke more security clearances from people linked to the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and he came up with the list that Sanders read on Wednesday.
That list included some people who lost their security clearances when they were fired, like former FBI Director James Comey, but Trump still wanted them named, the Post reports. He thinks by taking on Brennan, it makes him look strong, the officials said, and he could act soon to revoke additional security clearances. This is a new obsession, with Trump becoming focused on the matter this summer. On Wednesday, Sanders said Brennan's "erratic conduct" led Trump to revoke his security clearance, but Trump later told a Wall Street Journal reporter that Brennan and the others "led" the "sham" Russia investigation, "so I think it's something that had to be done."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Eurovision faces its Waterloo over Israel boycotts
Talking Point Five major broadcasters have threatened to pull out of next year’s contest over Israel’s participation
-
What is Donald Trump’s visit worth to the UK economy?
In the Spotlight Centrepiece of the president’s trip, business-wise, is a ‘technology partnership’
-
Trump’s visit: the mouse and the walrus
Britain is keen to point to its own ‘tangible results’, but the US administration has made their demands clear
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants