President Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, extending his campaign of political retribution to President Joe Biden’s family.
In a post on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump criticized the security detail assigned to Hunter Biden, claiming it included up to 18 agents and calling it “ridiculous.” He noted that Hunter Biden was currently on vacation in South Africa and linked the decision to his recent suspension of U.S. aid to the country over alleged human rights violations.
“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 wrote.
Federal law mandates Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, while children are only eligible if they are under 16. However, protection is often extended to adult children for a period after their parent leaves office.
A Secret Service spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating, “We are aware of the President’s decision to terminate protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden. The Secret Service will comply and is actively working with the protective details and the White House to ensure compliance as soon as possible.”
Hunter Biden has long been a target of Republican criticism, which escalated after his father pardoned his tax and gun-related convictions before leaving office in January. On Monday, Trump declared Biden’s pardon of his son—and others—void, a move with unclear legal standing.
Since his return to office in January, Trump has undertaken a series of retaliatory actions against political opponents. His administration previously revoked security clearances for former President Biden, numerous ex-officials, and employees of law firms linked to Democrats. Additionally, Trump stripped Secret Service protection from former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the nation’s COVID-19 response.
The White House has defended these actions, arguing that security details and clearances are not lifetime entitlements. “The individuals you’re mentioning are quite wealthy, I understand, so they can get their own private security if they wish,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in January.
During his first term, Trump extended Secret Service protection for six months to all four of his adult children and three senior officials, costing taxpayers $1.7 million, according to an analysis cited by The Washington Post.
