Donald Trump ends Secret Service for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden
The two adult children of President Joe Biden, Hunter and Ashley Biden, are now under the protection of the Secret Service, but President Donald Trump has taken a dramatic step and ordered that this security be immediately terminated.
In a social media post on March 17, Trump announced his decision, explaining that the high costs and extensive security requirements were key factors behind his choice.
In a bold move, President Trump decided to strip certain high-profile individuals of their Secret Service protection, citing the hefty costs and resources involved. This decision affected figures such as former National Security Advisor John Bolton, ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and retired General Mark Milley, all of whom had faced legitimate threats, particularly from Iran, during their service.
Additionally, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had previously been granted protection due to the multiple threats he received over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, was also removed from the list. Trump made it clear that he was not willing to extend lifetime security, stating, “When you have protection, you can’t have it for the rest of your life.”
During a visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Trump was asked by a reporter about the Secret Service detail assigned to Hunter Biden during his vacation in South Africa. Responding that he had just learned of it, Trump promised to look into the matter. A few hours later, he made the decision official, announcing on Truth Social that Hunter Biden’s security detail would be immediately revoked.
President Trump took to Twitter to criticize the extensive Secret Service protection granted to Hunter Biden, calling it “absurd” that taxpayers are footing the bill for such a large security detail. According to Trump, as many as 18 agents have been assigned to protect Biden, an arrangement he deems excessive.
There are also rumors circulating that Ashley Biden, who has had 13 agents assigned to her, might be next on the chopping block when it comes to Secret Service protection. Why now? Trump has been vocal about his distaste for Joe Biden and his family, frequently referencing his predecessor even as the election battle fades into history.
After leaving office, former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime Secret Service protection unless they choose to opt out. However, federal law dictates that children of former presidents are no longer eligible for protection once they turn 16. Despite this, both President Biden and Trump extended protection for their children for six months after leaving office. But now, in a recent move, Trump has officially ended those extensions.
President Trump criticized Hunter Biden’s recent vacation in South Africa, a country he has previously condemned for its controversial land seizure practices and human rights issues. This criticism came shortly after President Joe Biden made headlines for granting a sweeping pardon to his son, Hunter, covering any federal charges from 2014 to 2024. The pardon allowed Hunter to have his convictions for tax evasion and unlawful weapons possession overturned.
This move raised eyebrows, especially given Joe Biden’s earlier assurances that he would not intervene in his son’s legal matters. However, the president defended his actions, stating that no reasonable person could look at Hunter’s cases and conclude anything other than that he was unfairly targeted because of his familial ties.
In addition to Hunter’s pardon, Biden also granted preemptive pardons to several individuals, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the committee investigating the January 6th Capitol disturbance, raising questions about the broader scope of presidential clemency at the end of his term.
In an unprecedented move, President Trump openly challenged the legitimacy of the last-minute pardons issued by Vice President Biden. Trump’s bold claim sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as he declared that these pardons were “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.”
Trump specifically took aim at the pardons granted to members of the January 6th committee, alleging that they were improperly signed using an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a person’s signature. He raised questions about the authenticity of the pardons, suggesting that they lacked the necessary legal validity due to the unconventional signing method.
Biden had justified these pardons by stating that the individuals involved—some of whom had been law enforcement officers or committee members—were at risk of being persecuted for their political beliefs. However, Trump’s challenge to their legitimacy added fuel to the fire of the ongoing debate over the power of presidential pardons and the validity of executive actions taken in the final days of a presidency.
In a provocative post on Truth Social, President Trump declared, “Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two-year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level.”
Trump’s statement was aimed at certain individuals involved in the investigation, intensifying his ongoing criticism of the committee and its actions during the probe. The former president’s comments suggest he believes there should be accountability for what he perceives as a politically motivated investigation and a lack of due process. This marks yet another chapter in his contentious relationship with the committee and the broader legal challenges he continues to face.
