Chile! President Donald Trump has social media debating whether he has an obsession with the former commander-in-chief and his family. On Monday (March 18), Trump said he was “immediately” ending Secret Service protection for Joe Biden‘s adult children, Ashley and Hunter Biden. Shortly before leaving office in January, the former president extended his kids’ protection details until July.
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Trump To Snatch Secret Service Protection From Biden Family
Speaking on Truth Social, the Republican president objected to Hunter Biden allegedly having 18 agents assigned to him while traveling in South Africa this week. He also said Ashley Biden has 13 agents in her detail and that she too “will be taken off the list.” Trump’s post on Truth Social received over 7,000 reshares and nearly 30,000 likes.
“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer,” President Donald Trump wrote. 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.”
Trump Previously Used The SAME Protection Perk For His Family
Joe Biden’s office has not released a statement on the matter. Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses receive life-long Secret Service protection. Meanwhile, protection for their immediate families over the age of 16 typically ends when they leave office. However, outgoing presidents can extend protection for those not eligible for up to six months after they leave office.
As mentioned, that’s what Biden did for his adult children. Despite wanting to snatch away Secret Service protection from Ashley and Hunter Biden, Trump took advantage of the perk for his family after leaving office in 2021. He extended protection to his four children and their spouses for six months. No one in the Biden administration ended it early. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also extended protection for their families for a period of time.
Secret Service Reacts To President’s Statement On Biden Children
It is unclear whether President Donald Trump has already pushed official paperwork to snatch the Secret Service protection. However, the agency plans to comply with his demand and is already making moves to do so.
“We are aware of the President’s decision to terminate protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden,” 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.”
A reporter first brought the topic of Hunter Biden’s protection to Trump’s attention on Monday afternoon. At the time, the president was touring the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“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,” Trump said, who added this was the first time he heard about the matter. “I’m going to take a look at that.”
His Truth Social post about the Biden children’s protection details came hours later at 6:09 p.m. ET.
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Associated Press staff Zeke Miller and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
