Trump has taken steps that have alienated potential allies abroad, while critics at home say he is recklessly undermining the United States' global influence. And Trump's presidency has been dogged since its earliest days by questions about Russia's role in helping him get elected in November 2016. Trump has dismissed those concerns as a hoax and says they are being pushed by Democrats unable to accept his victory. Russia denies interfering in the election, despite U.S. intelligence agency findings. Trump has also escalated his efforts to dismantle the U.S. humanitarian agency charged with helping the world's poorest and extending American influence around the globe. He signed an order Friday cutting the budget of the State Department's global poverty-fighting agency by more than a third while directing it to focus on just 10 areas of the world. A senior administration official said Trump wants USAID to concentrate its efforts on North Korea, South Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar (also known as Burma), Pakistan and Haiti. The move came less than a week after he fired Tillerson and replaced him with Pompeo.

The Vestiges of Trump's Presidency How Robotics Experts Can Improve Their Work Through It

President Donald Trump on Friday revoked his predecessor Joe Biden's security clearance in a blizzard of new orders, while escalating his campaign to dismantle the US humanitarian agency charged with helping the world's poorest and extending American influence around the globe.

Trump has been attacking the former vice president for weeks after he was accused by multiple women of sexual assault. He called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate Biden, who has denied the allegations, but no probe was announced. Trump is facing a growing storm of criticism over his refusal to condemn the Russian government for election interference despite the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.

The president signed three memoranda in rapid succession on Friday afternoon ordering a review of the security clearance system and directing the Secretary of State and other officials to report back within 180 days with proposals to strengthen it. To protect our Nation, its people, and our institutions, we must stop bad actors who exploit vulnerabilities in our immigration system, he said.

Trump's decision to rescind Biden's clearance comes as his administration faces multiple foreign policy crises, from North Korea's nuclear program to Russian aggression in Ukraine to the civil war in Syria. The move also came days after Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replaced him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday.

In addition to Biden, Trump has rescinded the security clearances of former CIA chief John Brennan, who was among the first ex-intelligence officials to warn that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Also on the list were former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former FBI Director James Comey, both of whom testified about Russian interference during congressional hearings.

Trump's executive order also includes a provision allowing the administration to revoke the security clearances of any employee of the State Department or other agencies who leaks classified information to the news media. The president has previously said he would consider revoking the clearance of CNN commentator and frequent critic Wolf Blitzer, although it was not immediately clear if that meant his State Department clearance.

Trump's order came amid criticism from some quarters that he is abusing his power by seeking retribution against political foes. It also follows a string of Trump administration moves to roll back policies put in place by the Obama-Biden administration on everything from taxes and regulations to energy and climate change.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.