On Monday, President Donald Trump announced a significant decision regarding the security of former President Joe Biden's adult children. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared that Hunter Biden would no longer receive U.S. Secret Service protection, a move that has garnered considerable attention. Trump expressed his view that the number of agents assigned to Hunter's security detail—reportedly as many as 18—was excessive, describing it as "ridiculous."
Effective immediately, Trump stated that Hunter Biden's Secret Service protection would be revoked. Additionally, Ashley Biden, Hunter's sister, will also lose her security detail, which Trump noted consisted of 13 agents. The Secret Service confirmed their awareness of the President's decision, stating, "We are aware of the President’s decision to terminate protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden." They assured that they would comply with this order and work closely with the protective details and the White House to implement the changes as quickly as possible.
Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses are entitled to life-long Secret Service protection. However, the same does not apply to their immediate family members over the age of 16 once they leave office. Both Trump and Biden had previously extended security details for their children for an additional six months after leaving office. Notably, former President Biden granted Baron Trump the same courtesy, allowing him to retain his Secret Service protection even after his 16th birthday.
In his social media post, Trump also commented on President Biden's current activities, mentioning that he is vacationing in South Africa. Trump criticized the Biden administration's stance on South Africa's controversial land exploration law, which permits the government to seize land without compensation. He argued that this policy unfairly discriminates against white landowners, leading to the decision to remove South Africa from the list of countries receiving economic and financial assistance from the United States.
Adding to the diplomatic tensions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that South Africa's ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in the country. In a webinar, South African diplomat Ebrahim Rasool discussed the Trump administration's actions regarding diversity and equity programs, framing them as a response to the changing demographics in the U.S., where the electorate is projected to become increasingly diverse. Rubio, however, accused Rasool of being a divisive figure, labeling him a "race-baiting politician" who harbors animosity toward Trump.
As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of Trump's decision regarding the Biden family's Secret Service protection and the escalating tensions with South Africa remain topics of significant interest in the political landscape.
