Why Did Secret Service Protection End for Hunter and Ashley Biden?

Man wearing an earpiece, touching his ear.

President Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, immediately ending a costly security detail that had controversially continued months after Joe Biden left office.

Key Takeaways

President Trump terminated Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, citing excessive resources with 18 and 13 agents respectively assigned to them.
Former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong protection, but children over 16 typically lose protection when a president leaves office unless specifically extended.
Hunter Biden was reportedly vacationing in South Africa with taxpayer-funded security at the time of the announcement.
The Secret Service has confirmed they are working to comply with Trump’s directive to end the protection immediately.
The Biden family has been advised they can arrange private security using their own funds if needed.

Trump Orders Immediate End to Biden Children’s Protection

President Donald Trump has ordered the immediate termination of Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, the adult children of former President Joe Biden. The protective detail, which normally ends when a president leaves office, had been extended by Biden until July 2025. Trump’s decision comes after reports revealed Hunter Biden had as many as 18 agents assigned to him, while Ashley Biden had approximately 13 agents, creating a detail of around 30 taxpayer-funded personnel protecting the former president’s adult children.

The Secret Service has acknowledged the directive and is working to implement the president’s decision. “We are aware of the President’s decision to terminate protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden,” the agency stated in response to the announcement. The termination affects only the Biden children while the former president and first lady will continue to receive their lifelong protection as mandated by law.

Legal Framework and Historical Context

Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses receive Secret Service protection for life, but protection for their children over 16 years of age typically ends when they leave office. Presidents have the authority to extend this protection for up to six additional months, which Biden had done. This practice is not unprecedented – both Barack Obama and George W. Bush extended security protection for their families after leaving the White House.

“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 when initially asked about the protection. “I’m going to take a look at that.”

The significant number of agents assigned to Hunter Biden’s detail raised questions about resource allocation within the Secret Service, which has faced staffing challenges in recent years. The decision to end the protection comes at a time when the agency’s resources are spread thin covering multiple protectees including former presidents, visiting dignitaries, and current administration officials.

Hunter Biden’s Controversial Activities

The termination occurs while Hunter Biden was reportedly vacationing in South Africa with his Secret Service detail. Critics have questioned the appropriateness of using federal security resources for his international travel, particularly given South Africa’s recent removal from the list of countries receiving U.S. economic assistance due to human rights concerns. Hunter Biden has remained a controversial figure throughout his father’s presidency due to various allegations regarding his business dealings.

“🚨#BREAKING: President Trump has officially REVOKED Ashley and Hunter Biden’s Secret Service protection effective immediately.”

Additional reports have suggested Hunter Biden attended sensitive meetings without proper security clearance during his father’s administration. These claims have fueled concerns about potential security breaches and improper access. The White House under the Trump administration has suggested that if the Biden family requires security going forward, they have the financial means to arrange private protection without relying on taxpayer resources.