On Monday, former President Donald Trump announced the immediate cessation of Secret Service protection for Joe Biden’s adult children, a measure he had previously extended until July before leaving office. Trump took to social media to express his discontent regarding the reported 18 agents assigned to Hunter Biden’s security while he was in South Africa. He also noted that Ashley Biden, who reportedly has 13 agents, would also have her protection revoked.
The former president’s office has yet to respond to his decision. Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses are entitled to life-long Secret Service protection; however, this does not automatically extend to their children over 16 once they leave office. Outgoing presidents do have the option to extend protection for six months, a privilege both Biden and Trump exercised.
Notably, previous presidents like Barack Obama and George W. Bush have similarly extended protection for their family members. The Secret Service acknowledged Trump’s decision, stating they would comply and coordinate with the White House to implement the changes promptly.
During a visit to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trump was questioned about the potential revocation of protection for his own son. He responded that the protection for Biden’s children might warrant further review, indicating he was unaware of the specifics until that moment.
This development underscores the contentious nature of familial protections extended to the offspring of public figures and raises questions about security needs in politically charged environments.