On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he was canceling Secret Service protection for Joe Biden's children, Hunter and Ashley Biden, with immediate effect. This protection had been extended by President Biden in the period leading up to his departure from office in January.
Trump blasted the move, noting that 18 agents were deployed to guard Hunter Biden on his weeklong vacation in South Africa as "ridiculous." He also mentioned that 13 agents were deployed to Ashley Biden's security, pronouncing both of them would now be taken off the list.
"Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden, who has 13 agents, will be taken off the list," Trump said.
He made the declaration during his visit to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he was asked if he would take away the protection for Biden's children. Trump replied that he had heard about the issue for the first time, stating, "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. I'm going to take a look at that.
A Secret Service official confirmed to AFP that they were aware of Trump's move and would be following it. "We are aware of the President's decision to cancel protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden. The Secret Service will follow through and is currently working with the protective details and the White House to facilitate compliance as quickly as possible," the official said.
Under US federal law, former presidents and their wives are provided with Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives. Their immediate family members' protection usually ends when their term ends. Both Trump and Biden had extended Secret Service protection to their adult children for six months after the expiration of their presidential terms.
Biden's administration hadn't made an urgent statement regarding Trump's action, which is viewed widely as being part of a retribution campaign.
Trump also made a statement earlier in the day that pardons given by the previous president during the last days of his presidency were null and void, an action regarded as unprecedented with uncertain legal consequence. Hunter Biden had earlier been pardoned by his father for gun and tax offenses on the eve of Biden's exit from office in January.
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