Midday · NOV 10 · 11:30 AM CT
"Abdul El Sayed has failed the background check required for classified Senate briefings. The denial blocks him from any session that involves sensitive national security information." — X account @TrumpNews_Baby (posting as "Jonathan Gregory"), Nov. 8, 2026, in a wire-style post viewed about 2.7 million times
SmokeScreen, "The post said he failed a background check for classified briefings. The law names members of Congress as exempt from that process," Nov. 9, 2026 (reproducing the @TrumpNews_Baby post on X)
The claim: “"Abdul El Sayed has failed the background check required for classified Senate briefings. The denial blocks him from any session that involves sensitive national security information." — X account @TrumpNews_Baby (posting as "Jonathan Gregory"), Nov. 8, 2026, in a wire-style post viewed about 2.7 million times”
Why we rated it this way: Section 3163 says the classified-access subchapter "shall not apply to the President and Vice President, Members of the Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, and Federal judges," and the Congressional Research Service's clearance FAQ (R43216) says security clearances "are not mandated" for members of Congress, who are deemed eligible by virtue of their office. There is no background check a senator-elect sits for, so there is none to fail. The post cites only unnamed "officials who conduct the clearances," and no Senate, agency or press record shows any denial.
See the evidenceWhat would change our rating: A Senate, Office of Senate Security or intelligence-agency document showing El-Sayed was reviewed and barred from classified briefings, or a change in law requiring clearances for members of Congress, would move this verdict.