Donald Trump announced Monday that he is immediately ending Secret Service protection for Joe Biden’s adult children. The former president, who had extended their security details until July before leaving office, now says the extra protection is unnecessary and a misuse of government resources.
Trump Criticizes Hunter Biden’s Large Security Detail
Trump took to social media to slam the size of Hunter Biden’s security team, claiming that 18 agents were assigned to him while he was traveling in South Africa. It was argued that the protective detail was excessive and questioned why taxpayer dollars were being used to protect him abroad.
He also pointed out that Ashley Biden, Joe Biden’s daughter, had 13 agents assigned to her security detail. He declared that she, too, would immediately lose her Secret Service protection.
“There are 18 agents with Hunter Biden? That will be something I’ll look at this afternoon,” Trump said when asked about the issue while touring the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
He suggested that he had only just learned about the number of agents assigned to Biden’s children, and that it was a matter worth reviewing.
Biden’s Children Lose Extended Protection
Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong Secret Service protection. However, their children lose this security once they turn 16, unless an extension is granted.
Both Trump and Biden had previously extended the Secret Service coverage for their children for six months after leaving office. Trump had approved this extension for Biden’s family before leaving the White House in January. However, he has now revoked that decision and ended their protection ahead of schedule.
Trump Questions Secret Service Priorities
While speaking to reporters, Trump said he did not realize how many agents had been assigned to Hunter and Ashley Biden until Monday. He argued that such a large team was unnecessary and that it should be reassessed.
“Well, we have done that with many,” Trump said, referring to the removal of Secret Service protection for others. “I would say if there are 18 with Hunter Biden, that will be something I’ll look at this afternoon.”
He suggested that the security details for Biden’s children were disproportionate. That is compared to other figures and implied that it was time for the protection to end.
Trump ends protection of Biden children: No Immediate Response from Biden’s Office
So far, Biden’s office has not responded to Trump’s announcement. The decision is expected to spark debate over whether the extra security was justified. Some might argue that it was an unnecessary use of government resources.
Critics argue that Hunter Biden, who has been the subject of multiple investigations, may have legitimate security concerns. This is due to his high-profile legal battles and public scrutiny. Others believe the Secret Service protection for the Biden children should have ended long ago. They are private citizens and no longer part of the administration.
With Trump ending protection of Biden children, many questions remain over how quickly the Secret Service will adjust, whether security arrangements will be made privately, and what impact this will have on the Biden family’s safety moving forward.
