President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has revoked Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the adult children of former President Joe Biden. This decision is effective immediately and was communicated through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
In his announcement, President Trump stated:
“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer. 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 has been strenuously questioned. Because of this, South Africa has been taken off our list of Countries receiving Economic and Financial Assistance. 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.”
The revocation of Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden coincides with his current vacation in South Africa. President Trump expressed concerns about this trip, referencing South Africa’s human rights record and stating that the country has been removed from the list of nations receiving U.S. economic and financial assistance.
Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection. However, protection for their children over the age of 16 typically ends when they leave office, unless extensions are granted. Both Trump and Biden had previously extended these protective details for their children for six months after leaving office.
This move follows a series of similar actions by President Trump. In January 2025, he revoked Secret Service protection for several former officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and Brian Hook, the former envoy to Iran.
The decision to terminate Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden has sparked discussions regarding the allocation of federal resources and the criteria for extending protective details to family members of former presidents. As of now, there has been no official response from former President Joe Biden’s office concerning this development.
