Donald Trump Strips Power from His Enemies: Biden, Harris, and Clinton Among Those Named

In a stunning late-night move, President Donald J. Trump issued a powerful memorandum that sent shockwaves through Washington D.C. and beyond. With one stroke of the pen, Trump rescinded the security clearances and access to classified intelligence for a long and symbolic list of rivals, critics, and former power players—effectively severing their remaining ties to the inner sanctum of American power. 

Among those named were none other than Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and even “any other member of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s family.” It was not just a bureaucratic notice—it was a declaration. A declaration that Donald Trump is back, and he’s not here to play nice.

The move, framed officially as a national security measure, was in reality something much more deliberate. It was political retribution. It was a bold gesture that said, unequivocally, that Trump’s America would no longer tolerate the lingering influence of those who, in his view, conspired against him, undermined his presidency, and attempted to erase his legacy.

This was not merely about access to confidential files—it was about power, loyalty, and score-settling.

Back in February, Trump hinted at such action, stating that he intended to strip his predecessor, Joe Biden, of access to sensitive intelligence briefings—a move Biden himself had made against Trump after the events of January 6, 2021. Now, Trump has followed through—and he has not stopped at Biden alone.

The memo’s list reads like a who’s who of Trump’s political enemies. Kamala Harris, the sitting Vice President; Hillary Clinton, his former presidential rival; and Joe Biden, the man who took the White House from him in 2020. Their inclusion signaled a dramatic escalation. While some of the names had been expected, others—especially Harris and Clinton—came as a surprise.

But Trump didn’t stop with the big names. He swept up a variety of high-profile figures who crossed him during the most turbulent years of his presidency. Among them were New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg—two officials who have led relentless legal efforts against Trump’s business empire.

Their investigations, indictments, and courtroom battles have kept Trump in the headlines and in legal jeopardy. Now, Trump is using his executive power to push back with unmistakable force.

The memo also targets key figures from the first impeachment saga of 2019—those who stood against Trump when he was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate the Biden family. Names like Fiona Hill, a respected foreign policy expert; Alexander Vindman, the lieutenant colonel who became a household name during the hearings; and Norman Eisen, the impeachment counsel who helped orchestrate the case—each has now been formally stripped of access to the intelligence community they once served.

And then, there are the Republican turncoats—Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. The only two GOP members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. For Trump, their participation in that committee was nothing short of betrayal. Their names being included was not just a procedural step—it was a symbolic purge.

Trump’s memo was clear and forceful: “I also direct all executive department and agency heads to revoke unescorted access to secure United States government facilities from these individuals. This action includes, but is not limited to, receipt of classified briefings, such as the President’s Daily Brief, and access to classified information held by any member of the intelligence community by virtue of the named individuals’ previous tenure in the Congress.”

Though largely symbolic, the move carries real-world consequences. Those named will now face barriers in entering secure federal buildings, accessing classified materials, or interacting with sensitive government systems.

It’s a line drawn in the sand—Trump’s way of saying these individuals no longer have a seat at the table, and their time of influence is over.

The timing of the announcement—late Friday night—was classic Trump: unpredictable, theatrical, and impossible to ignore. It ensured that his decision would dominate the weekend political cycle, energizing his base and infuriating his opponents.

But more than that, it reaffirmed one of Trump’s core political instincts: never forget your enemies, and never let them walk away unscathed.

This is not just a memo. It’s a message to the establishment. A message that Trump still sees himself as the rightful steward of American power.

That the games played against him during his first term—from impeachment to criminal investigations—will not go unanswered. That there will be consequences. That the new era under Trump will not be one of reconciliation, but of reckoning.

It’s also a warning to anyone still considering standing in his way. With another presidential run in motion, Trump is laying down the law.

This move sets the tone for the battles ahead. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more waiting for justice. Trump has made it clear—he is taking matters into his own hands.

In purging the names of Biden, Harris, Clinton, and many others, Donald Trump has effectively declared the return of his political will. The message is unmistakable: if you cross him, he will remember.

If you attempt to weaken him, he will respond. And if you try to cling to the halls of power after working against him, he will shut the doors.

Washington should take note. This is not the same Trump who entered the White House in 2016.

This is a Trump sharpened by betrayal, hardened by experience, and emboldened by the unwavering support of millions who see in him a force of retribution against a political class they no longer trust.

This memo is more than a policy directive. It is a manifesto. A symbol of political retaliation. And above all, it is proof that Donald Trump is not retreating—he’s reasserting control.