President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation from Democrats. The decision is the latest salvo in Trump’s ongoing war against his political opponents and the institutions of government.
Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s security clearance was announced on his Truth Social network, where he claimed that there was “no need” for Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. The move is seen as a clear attempt by Trump to undermine Biden’s authority and credibility.
But Trump’s attack on Biden was just the beginning. The President also escalated his campaign to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which he claims is corrupt and inefficient. The agency has been a target of Trump’s administration, with the President repeatedly calling for its funding to be slashed.
USAID’s former chief, Samantha Power, has strongly criticized Trump’s actions, stating that the US is witnessing “one of the worst and most costly foreign policy blunders in US history”. Power argued that USAID plays a critical role in promoting American interests and values around the world, and that Trump’s attacks on the agency are misguided and damaging.
In addition to his attacks on Biden and USAID, Trump also froze aid to South Africa, citing a law in the country that he claims allows farmland to be seized from white farmers. The move has been widely criticized as a blatant attempt by Trump to curry favor with his right-wing base.
