Presidential Decision Follows Pattern of Security Revocations for Political Opponents
In a controversial move that has raised questions about the politicization of security protocols, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he has revoked Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, the adult children of former President Joe Biden.
“Hunter has been vacationing in South Africa, protected by 18 Secret Service agents, which is ridiculous,” Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform. After slamming South Africa for its human rights record, Trump announced that he is removing Hunter and Ashley Biden from the list of individuals protected by the US Secret Service.
This security revocation comes just one day after Trump declared all last-minute pardons issued by Biden—including one for his son Hunter—”null and void,” claiming they were improperly signed using an autopen rather than by the president himself.
A growing list of Trump critics losing protection
The Biden siblings join a lengthening roster of Trump critics and former officials who have seen their security withdrawn under the current administration. Other notable figures who have lost protection include:
- Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper
- Former National Security Adviser John Bolton
- Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
- Dr. Anthony Fauci
- Former Iran envoy Brian Hook
Security experts note that Secret Service protection is typically provided based on verified threat assessments rather than political considerations.
Secret Service mandate and operations
The U.S. Secret Service, which employs over 8,400 security personnel, has a clearly defined protection mandate established by federal law and longstanding practice.
The agency is responsible for safeguarding:
- The President and Vice President, along with their immediate families
- Former presidents, their spouses, and minor children under 16
- Officials in the presidential line of succession
- Major presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their spouses
- Visiting foreign heads of state and government
The decision to remove the adult children of a former president from protection protocols marks a significant departure from traditional security practices and has prompted debate about the appropriate use of presidential authority over protective resources.