President Donald Trump announced Monday that he would end “immediately” the Secret Service protection details assigned to Democrat Joe Biden’s adult children, which the former president had extended until July shortly before leaving office in January.
The Republican president took to social media to criticize what he claimed were 18 agents assigned to Hunter Biden’s protective detail while in South Africa this week. He claimed Ashley Biden has 13 agents assigned to her detail and that she, too, “will be taken off the list.”
There was no immediate response from the former president’s office.
Former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime Secret Service protection under federal law, but the protection provided to their immediate families over the age of 16 expires when they leave office.
However, outgoing presidents can provide protection to those who would otherwise be ineligible for up to six months after leaving office, as Biden did for his children and Trump did for his family after leaving office in 2021. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also temporarily extended protection to their families.
“We are aware of the President’s decision to lift Hunter and Ashley Biden’s protection,” the agency said in a statement. “The Secret Service will comply and is actively working with the protective details and the White House to ensure compliance as soon as possible.”
While touring the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Monday afternoon, a reporter asked Trump if he would revoke the protection for the former president’s son.
“Well, we’ve done it with many. I would say if there are 18 with Hunter Biden, that is something I will look into this afternoon,” Trump said, adding that this was the first time he had heard about the situation.
“I’m going to take a look at that,” he said.