Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for Joe Biden’s two adult children in his continued efforts to cut down on government spending, saying the number of security personnel assigned for the two is ‘ridiculous’.
Trump and Biden’s kids were both under protection
The Secret Service provides security personnel for Trump himself as well as his 18-year-old son Barron Trump. They are also tasked with protecting Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, as part of the Former Presidents Protection Act which holds security protection to former presidents in place.
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Before Trump revoked it, Biden’s two adult children also received security protection.
Why Trump decided to revoke the protection
With 55-year-old Hunter Biden on a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, 18 agents flew to the African capital to protect him. After hearing about this, Trump decided to revoke the Secret Service protection on Biden’s kids.
43-year-old Ashley Biden, Joe Biden’s daughter, reportedly also has 13 agents following her around for protection.
Secret Service protection is typically for under 16s
According to the Former Presidents Protection Act, only children of former presidents under the age of 16 qualify for Secret Service protection.
But Biden had signed off on extending the protection on his adult children for six more months before leaving office.
Trump didn’t like this and revoked it with ‘immediate’ effect
Taking to his social media app, Truth Social, Trump announced that he would be removing security personnel from around the two Biden children.
He wrote, “Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer.”
He also commented on South Africa
“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,” Trump wrote.
“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.”
He also added, “Likewise, Ashley Biden who has 13 agents will be taken off the list.”
Trump has granted his own adult kids protection before
While he doesn’t like Biden’s move of granting his adult children further Secret Service protection, Trump had done the same four years ago, according to ABC News.
At the time, Trump signed off on Secret Service protection for his adult children; 47-year-old Donald Trump Jr., as well as Ivanka Trump, 43, Eric Trump, 41, and Tiffany Trump, 31.
This comes as Trump cuts down on federal spending
This decision to remove Secret Service agents from working to protect Biden’s kids comes as Trump and Elon Musk decided to cut down on federal spending.
With Musk heading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he and Trump have been taking an axe to jobs and contracts to cut down on government bills.
