Trump questions why taxpayers should fund the security for the former president’s son.
President Donald Trump has directed the Secret Service to cease providing protection to Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden.
While federal law provides lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, this benefit doesn’t automatically extend to their adult children. Trump has repeatedly accused his predecessor of showing favoritism towards his family and protecting his son from legal consequences.
In a Monday post on Truth Social, Trump described it as “ridiculous” that Hunter Biden was being guarded by at least 18 agents, while Ashley Biden had 13 agents assigned to her.
Trump wrote, “He is currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa, where the Human Rights of people has been strenuously questioned. 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.”
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed on Monday that the agency will adhere to the president’s directive.
In 2024, Hunter Biden was found guilty of tax-related offenses and for failing to disclose his drug use when purchasing a firearm.
Trump and Republicans have also accused Hunter Biden of leveraging his father’s position for personal gain and engaging in corruption. The Bidens have denied these allegations.
Joe Biden issued a broad pardon to Hunter Biden in December, despite prior assurances of non-interference in his son’s legal matters. He argued that the prosecution was politically motivated and that “Hunter was singled out only because he is my son.”
Republicans and some Democrats criticized the pardon. Trump has called it “an abuse and miscarriage of justice.”
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