Donald Trump said Monday he was ending “immediately” the Secret Service protection details assigned to Democrat Joe Biden’s adult children, which the former president had extended to July shortly before leaving office in January.
Trump posted his intention on Truth Social after a reporter asked him about Hunter Biden’s Secret Service detail: “Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer,” Trump said.
“Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden who has 13 agents will be taken off the list,” Trump added.
There was no immediate reaction from the former president’s office.
Former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong Secret Service protection under federal law, but the protection afforded to their immediate families over the age of 16 ends when they leave office, though both Trump and Biden extended the details for their children for six months before leaving office.
While touring the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday afternoon, a reporter asked Trump if he would revoke the protection for the former president’s son.
“Well, we have done that with many. I would say if there are 18 with Hunter Biden, that will be something I’ll look at this afternoon,” Trump said, who added this was the first time he heard about the matter.
“I’m going to take a look at that,” he said.
This wouldn’t be the first instance of Trump revoking security details, in January, he revoked the security details for Mike Pompeo, Trump’s former secretary of state; Brian Hook, a former top aide; and John Bolton, his former national security adviser, within 72 hours of Trump’s second term beginning.
Trump’s decision to remove their security details, which were believed to be provided by the state department, comes despite warnings from the Biden administration that both men faced ongoing threats from Iran due to actions they took following Trump’s orders during his first term as president.
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Under US protocol, senior officials other than former presidents and their spouses are not automatically guaranteed ongoing protection. But US intelligence agencies deemed Hook, Pompeo and Bolton to be under significant risk, which prompted the Biden administration to grant them protection.
Marina Dunbar contributed reporting
