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"I
think not," Biden said when asked by CBS Evening News anchor
Norah O'Donnell if Trump, a Republican, should get the
briefings.
Former U.S. presidents traditionally receive some intelligence
briefings even after they have left office.
Trump frequently denigrated the intelligence community and was
not known for taking long briefings during his White House
tenure. He also called into question U.S. intelligence that
showed Russia had intervened in the 2016 election.
The Republican is facing his second impeachment trial next week,
this time charged with sparking an insurrection at the Capitol
by calling on people to "fight" the results of the Nov. 3
election that he lost.
Biden said his view that Trump should not receive the briefings
was not connected to the Capitol riots.
"Because of his erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection,"
Biden said, describing his reasoning.
Asked what his biggest concern would be if Trump received such
classified information, Biden demurred.
"I'd rather not speculate out loud. I just think that there is
no need for him to have 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?" Biden said.
The White House had said previously that the issue was under
review.
Trump spent the months after the election fighting the results
in court and making baseless allegations of widespread fraud. He
did not attend Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration with other former
U.S. presidents, flying instead to Florida where he has set up
his post-presidential office.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sonya
Hepinstall)
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