President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is immediately terminating Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, the adult children of President Joe Biden.
In a social media post, Trump criticized what he called an excessive security detail, alleging that 18 Secret Service agents were assigned to Hunter Biden during his visit to South Africa this week. Hunter’s wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, is originally from South Africa.
“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States taxpayer,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“There are as many as 18 people on this detail, which is ridiculous! He is currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa, where the human rights of people have been strenuously questioned. Because of this, South Africa has been removed from our list of countries receiving U.S. economic and financial assistance. Effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection.”
Trump also announced that Ashley Biden, who he claimed had 13 agents assigned to her, would likewise lose her protection.
Secret Service Responds
Under U.S. law, former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection, while protection for their adult children typically ends when they leave office. However, outgoing presidents can extend this coverage for up to six months—a discretion that both Biden and Trump exercised, following the precedent set by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
The Secret Service issued a statement acknowledging Trump’s decision:
“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.”
Biden Family Has Yet to Respond
As of now, there has been no official response from the Biden family regarding the decision.
While touring the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday afternoon, Trump was asked whether he would also revoke protection for the former president’s son.
“Well, we have done that with many. I would say if there are 18 with Hunter Biden, that will be something I’ll look at this afternoon,” Trump said, adding that this was the first time he had heard about the matter.
“I’m going to take a look at that,” he concluded.
