President Biden gave his first sit-down interview for CBS News. A clip aired in the Super Bowl pregame show and segments were released ahead of the big game.
In one clip, Biden is asked about whether he believed former president Trump should release intelligence briefings. His response is revealing and even a bit ironic.
Asked whether former Pres. Trump should still receive intelligence briefings, Pres. Biden tells no “because of his erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection.”
Pres. Biden: "What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?” pic.twitter.com/0PCkQuM0u0
— Norah O'Donnell 🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) February 5, 2021
“Let’s turn to the impeachment trial,” O’Donnell said. “President Trump’s impeachment trial. If you were still a senator, would you vote to convict him?”
“Look, I ran like hell to defeat him because I thought he was unfit to be president,” Biden responded. “I’ve watched what everybody else watched. What happened when that, that crew invaded the United States Congress.”
“But I’m not in the senate, now,” he continued. “I’ll let the Senate make that decision.”
“Well, then let me ask you something that you do have oversight of, as president,” O’Donnell pivoted. “Should former President Trump still receive intelligence briefings?”
“I think not,” he responded.
“Why not?” O’Donnell asked.
“Because of his errative behavior,” Biden replied, unironically. “Unrelated to the insurrection.”
This was a confusing response. O’Donnell continued asking questions, unphased.
“I mean, you’ve called him an existential threat,” she said, looking down at her notes. “You’ve called him dangerous, you’ve called him reckless…”
“Yeah, I have,” Biden replied. “And I believe it.”
“What’s your worst fear if he continues to get these intelligence briefings?” she asked.
“I’d rather not speculate out loud,” Biden answered. “I just think that there is no need for him to have the — the intelligence briefings. What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Slip and say something about what? The shadowy and authoritarian activities the current Biden administration appear to be engaging in that the American people might want to know about?
Just like the intention of the impeachment conviction trial is to to deprive now-citizen Donald Trump from ever running for higher office again, the sudden narrative shift that former President Trump needs to be deprived of intel briefings has much less to do with his “erratic” behavior than it does hiding the activities of the Biden administration.
It is reminiscent of the secretive Obama administration, which Biden’s presidency now appears merely to be the sequel.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.