Trump’s Revenge on Biden: A Cycle of Retaliation Deepening America’s Divide

Trump’s Revenge on Biden: A Cycle of Retaliation Deepening America’s Divide

Category: Big Picture Perspectives | Sub-category: Hidden Connections

Posted on InsightOutVision.com, May 17, 2025

The United States, once a beacon of political stability, is caught in a vicious cycle of retaliation that threatens to fracture its democratic fabric. At the heart of this storm is President Donald Trump’s recent decision to revoke former President Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to classified information, a move widely seen as a direct counterstrike to Biden’s similar action against Trump in 2021. This tit-for-tat escalation, rooted in years of legal and political warfare between Republicans and Democrats, signals a troubling new phase in American politics—one where vengeance overshadows governance and polarization hardens into permanent confrontation.

A Tit-for-Tat Power Play

On March 21, 2025, Trump issued a presidential memorandum stripping security clearances from Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and a roster of other political adversaries, including former Biden administration officials and critics like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. The memo, titled “Rescinding Security Clearances and Access to Classified Information from Specified Individuals,” declared it was “no longer in the national interest” for these figures to access sensitive information—a courtesy traditionally extended to former presidents and select officials.

This wasn’t a spontaneous act. It mirrors Biden’s 2021 decision to bar Trump from classified briefings, citing his “erratic behavior” post-January 6 Capitol riot. Trump’s response, however, didn’t stop at Biden. It extended to the entire Biden family and a broad swath of perceived enemies, from prosecutors like New York Attorney General Letitia James to former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter questioning the Hunter Biden laptop story. The message was clear: Trump is wielding executive power to settle scores, and he’s not subtle about it.

The Roots of Retribution

To understand this escalation, we must rewind to the legal battles that defined Trump’s post-presidency. Between 2021 and 2024, Trump faced four criminal cases, including charges of election fraud and mishandling classified documents. While a Florida judge dismissed the documents case in July 2024, and special counsel Jack Smith dropped it after Trump’s re-election, the sting of those prosecutions—led by Democratic-aligned figures like James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg—lingers. Trump’s supporters view these as politically motivated witch hunts, fueling his narrative of victimhood and justifying his retaliatory purge.

But this isn’t just about Trump and Biden. It’s a symptom of a deeper malaise. The revocation of security clearances is one piece of a broader campaign. Trump has also terminated Secret Service protection for Biden’s adult children, fired career officials, and targeted law firms like Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie for their roles in Democratic legal efforts. Each move reinforces his MAGA mantra: “I am your retribution.”

A Polarized Nation on Edge

The United States is more divided than ever. Pew Research shows that 65% of Americans feel exhausted by politics, with only 10% expressing hope. Republicans and Democrats no longer just disagree—they view each other as existential threats. This polarization, intensified by events like the January 6 insurrection and the 2020 election disputes, has created fertile ground for radicalization. Far-right groups, though diminished since 2020, are poised to exploit the 2024 election cycle, with analysts warning of potential violence at polling places.

Trump’s actions amplify this divide. By targeting political foes with symbolic yet potent measures like clearance revocations, he signals to his base that he’s fighting back against a “weaponized” system. Meanwhile, Democrats cry foul, arguing that Trump is abusing power to silence dissent. The cycle is self-perpetuating: Biden’s 2021 clearance revocation set a precedent, and Trump’s response raises the stakes. If a Democrat wins in 2028, they’ll likely retaliate, potentially barring Trump or his allies from classified access.

Hidden Connections: Power, Trust, and Democracy

Beneath the surface, this saga reveals hidden connections between power, trust, and the health of democracy. Security clearances, while often symbolic for former officials, represent trust in the system. Revoking them isn’t just a personal slight—it’s a statement that certain individuals are no longer deemed worthy of the nation’s confidence. This weaponization of access erodes institutional norms, as seen in Trump’s broader purge of federal officials and inspectors general.

The Hunter Biden laptop controversy, cited in Trump’s clearance revocations, is another thread. The 2020 letter by 51 former intelligence officials, which suggested Russian disinformation, became a lightning rod for Republican grievances. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acting on Trump’s orders, revoked those officials’ clearances in early 2025, framing it as accountability for “election interference.” Yet, the laptop’s authenticity remains contentious, and the revocations risk chilling free speech by punishing officials for their public statements.

This pattern of retaliation also connects to broader global concerns. As Chatham House notes, a contested U.S. election or prolonged uncertainty could embolden adversaries like Russia or China to exploit America’s internal chaos. A nation distracted by infighting is less equipped to address external threats, from cyberattacks to geopolitical maneuvering.

A Cycle Without End?

The revocation of Biden’s clearance is more than a petty jab—it’s a warning shot in a war of attrition between America’s two dominant parties. Each act of retribution begets another, entrenching a culture of vengeance over compromise. The 2024 election, marked by Trump’s victory over Harris, was a flashpoint, with 60 lawsuits challenging results and lingering distrust from 2020. If this trajectory holds, the 2028 election could see even greater escalation, with access to classified information becoming a political football for whichever party holds the White House.

Analysts warn that this “permanent confrontation” risks destabilizing democratic institutions. The revocation of clearances, while symbolic for figures like Biden or Clinton, has practical implications for prosecutors and lawyers who need access to classified material for ongoing cases. More broadly, it signals a shift toward governance by vendetta, where loyalty to the president trumps national interest.

Breaking the Cycle

Can this cycle be broken? It would require a rare act of statesmanship—perhaps a bipartisan agreement to restore norms around post-tenure courtesies like security clearances. But in today’s climate, such a move seems unlikely. Trump’s base demands retribution, and Democrats, still reeling from electoral defeat, are unlikely to extend an olive branch. The media, too, plays a role, amplifying outrage and reinforcing tribal loyalties.

For now, the U.S. remains locked in a spiral of polarization, where each side justifies its actions as a response to the other’s transgressions. Trump’s clearance revocations are just one chapter in a story of escalating animosity, with no clear resolution in sight.

Thought Questions for Readers

1. How can the U.S. break the cycle of political retaliation without one party feeling it’s conceding power?

2. What are the long-term consequences of weaponizing access to classified information in political disputes?

3. Could external threats, like cyberattacks or foreign interference, force both parties to prioritize national unity over partisan revenge?