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Among those stripped of their clearances were high-profile figures such as former CIA Directors John Brennan, Leon Panetta, and Michael Hayden, as well as former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. These former intelligence leaders had leveraged their past positions to give credibility to a claim that turned out to be a complete fabrication—one that played a crucial role in shaping the 2020 election.
The letter signed by these officials was used as a tool to discredit the New York Post’s explosive reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop. This, in turn, gave Big Tech companies like Twitter and Facebook justification to censor the story just weeks before the election. The suppression of this information shielded then-candidate Joe Biden from what could have been a damaging scandal at a critical moment in the race.
Trump’s executive order laid out the severe consequences of this deception, stating:
“The signatories willfully weaponized the gravitas of the Intelligence Community to manipulate the political process and undermine our democratic institutions. This fabrication of the imprimatur of the Intelligence Community to suppress information essential to the American people during a Presidential election is an egregious breach of trust reminiscent of a third world country. And now the faith of Americans in all other patriotic intelligence professionals who are sworn to protect the Nation has been imperiled.”
But Trump didn’t stop there. In addition to revoking their security clearances, he also barred these individuals from unescorted access to secure government buildings. A memorandum issued on January 29 ordered national security agencies to comply with the directive:
“These individuals no longer possess a need to access secure facilities, and as outlined in the Executive Order, do not have the appropriate security clearances to access classified information.”
This move effectively cuts these former officials off from any remaining influence in Washington’s power circles. Without security clearances or access to classified government buildings, their value to lobbying firms and other special interest groups is significantly diminished.
Just Released: Trump White House Collector’s Bobblehead!
Perhaps the most shocking development came when Ilhan Omar, a staunch progressive and frequent Trump adversary, publicly supported his decision. In a rare moment of agreement, Omar expressed her approval of Trump’s crackdown on the revolving door between intelligence officials and lucrative lobbying positions in Washington.
Omar took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her thoughts, writing:
“I hope this list grows and the revolving door closes for good.”
This unexpected endorsement from one of Trump’s fiercest opponents underscores just how significant this move is. Even those who typically oppose Trump’s policies seem to recognize the necessity of curbing the influence of former intelligence officials who abuse their past authority for political gain.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Omar has admitted Trump was right about something. Previously, she begrudgingly acknowledged that Trump’s pressure on Israel played a major role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“We knew that pressure applied by the United States would bring a ceasefire, and it’s just unfortunate that it was Trump’s pressure,” Omar stated.
While Omar’s policy positions remain vastly different from Trump’s, these admissions suggest that even his harshest critics can’t deny his effectiveness on certain issues.
Trump’s latest executive order is a major victory in his ongoing battle against the entrenched political elite. By stripping deep-state operatives of their security clearances and government access, he has sent a clear message that political manipulation and deception won’t be tolerated. And with even Ilhan Omar acknowledging the move as a step in the right direction, it’s clear this decision has had a serious impact.
As Trump continues to position himself for a potential return to the White House, moves like this only strengthen his argument that he is the only one willing to take on the corruption in Washington. With the 2024 election cycle heating up, expect more bold actions from Trump as he fights to drain the swamp once and for all.
