In a move that has already sent shockwaves through Washington, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is revoking Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the son and daughter of former President Joe Biden. The decision, made effective immediately, marks yet another significant shift in the post-presidency privileges once extended to the Biden family.
Trump revealed the decision in a Truth Social post, where he expressed frustration over the extended security detail afforded to Hunter Biden at taxpayer expense. According to Trump, as many as 18 Secret Service agents were assigned to Hunter, while Ashley Biden had 13 agents protecting her.
Trump argued that such an extensive level of protection was unnecessary and costly, especially given Hunter Biden’s recent travels. “Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States taxpayer,” Trump wrote. “There are as many as 18 people on this detail, which is ridiculous!”
BREAKING:
This morning, President Trump learned that Hunter Biden had 18 Secret Service Agents assigned to him while in South Africa.NOW: Trump just announced both Hunter & Ashley Biden’s Secret Service protection, totaling 31 Agents, have been pulled. pic.twitter.com/PLA5bxdqoO
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) March 17, 2025
The announcement comes as Hunter Biden was reportedly vacationing in South Africa, a country Trump pointed out has faced scrutiny over its human rights record. In his statement, Trump further revealed that South Africa had been removed from the list of nations receiving economic and financial assistance from the U.S. “Because of this, South Africa has been taken off our list of countries receiving economic and financial assistance,” he stated, tying Hunter’s presence there to broader policy decisions.
🚨EXCLUSIVE🚨
‼️US STATE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDING VEHICLES TO HUNTER BIDEN FOR HIS PERSONAL USE WHILE HE’S VACATIONING IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA WITH 18 US SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO DODGE A DEPOSITION‼️
Not only has the @SecretService been providing a US tax payer funded… https://t.co/V7VhcOM6S8 pic.twitter.com/nLkYh2wKOk
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 18, 2025
Under federal law, immediate family members of former presidents do not automatically receive lifelong Secret Service protection. However, Biden had extended security coverage for his children for six months beyond his presidency, a courtesy that Trump himself extended to his own children when he left office in 2021. The decision to continue or revoke these protections ultimately rests with the sitting president, making Trump’s move a stark break from past practices.
Trump had hinted at this decision earlier in the day while visiting the Kennedy Center, acknowledging that he was only just learning about the size of Hunter Biden’s security detail. “I would say if there are 18 [Secret Service agents] with Hunter Biden, that will be something I look at this afternoon,” he told reporters. Hours later, the official announcement followed.
The revocation of Hunter Biden’s security detail adds yet another chapter to the ongoing legal and political saga surrounding the president’s son. Hunter Biden was convicted in June on charges related to the illegal possession of a firearm while struggling with drug addiction. The case, which has been a focal point of Republican scrutiny, resulted in a pardon from President Biden just before leaving office.
In his pardon statement, Biden decried what he described as political targeting of his son, stating, “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong.”
I tracked down Hunter Biden in South Africa and PROVED that he was staying in a 5-star, oceanside villa despite claiming, in a signed declaration to the court, that he is BROKE.
If Hunter paid for this trip on his own dime, he needs to be held accountable for PERJURY, and the… pic.twitter.com/NkxWWucJzl
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 17, 2025
With this latest move, Trump has once again demonstrated his willingness to upend long-standing political norms. As his administration continues to take shape, the question now is what further actions might follow in his pursuit of reshaping government policies, even when it comes to personal security for the families of his predecessors.
