Trump Terminates Secret Service Protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden
President Donald Trump made a significant decision on Monday to end Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the adult children of President Joe Biden. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump announced that the protection for Hunter Biden would be terminated "effective immediately," and Ashley Biden would also be removed from the list of individuals under Secret Service protection. This move marks the latest in a series of actions by Trump to review and revoke security details for high-profile individuals since he began his second term in office.
The Secret Service confirmed that they were aware of Trump’s decision and were working to comply with the order as soon as possible. A spokesperson for Joe Biden and an attorney for Hunter Biden did not respond to requests for comment on Monday night. The decision comes after Trump hinted earlier in the day that he was considering removing Hunter Biden’s security detail, following Joe Biden’s recent trip to South Africa.
Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime Secret Service protection unless they decline it. Additionally, the Secret Service is authorized to protect the children of former presidents until they reach the age of 16. However, Hunter Biden, who is 55, and Ashley Biden, who is 43, are well beyond that age limit. While it is common for family members of former presidents to receive Secret Service protection for a limited period after the president leaves office, the duration is typically at the discretion of the sitting president.
Joe Biden extended security protections for his adult children until July before leaving office in January. Similarly, after Trump’s first term ended, Biden extended protections for Trump’s adult children for six months. However, Trump has taken a different approach since returning to office, terminating security protections for several individuals, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who oversaw the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and John Bolton, a former national security adviser who wrote a book critical of Trump.
Trump has defended these decisions, stating that security details for government officials are temporary and cannot be permanent. "When you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off," Trump said earlier this year. "And, you know, you can’t have them forever." This philosophy appears to be guiding his approach to Secret Service protections, as he evaluates who should continue to receive taxpayer-funded security.
The termination of Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden raises questions about the broader implications for the Biden family and the precedent this sets for future administrations. While the decision aligns with Trump’s stated views on limiting security details, it also underscores the discretionary power of the president in matters of national security and resource allocation. As this situation unfolds, it will likely spark further debate about the role of the Secret Service and the criteria for determining who deserves protection.
