Washington DC: President Donald Trump has ordered the immediate termination of Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the adult children of his predecessor, Joe Biden. The decision reverses an extension granted until July, which was put in place by the former president before leaving office in January.

Trump defended the move by criticising the number of agents assigned to each, stating that Hunter Biden had a security detail of 18 personnel during his trip to South Africa, while Ashley Biden had 13 agents assigned to her.

The Secret Service confirmed the order and stated that it is coordinating with the White House to ensure compliance. While federal law guarantees lifelong Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, security for their children over 16 typically ends once they leave office. However, past presidents, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Trump himself, have used their discretionary power to extend protection for their families.

Trump's announcement was made via his Truth Social platform, where he called the level of security for Hunter Biden "ridiculous" and linked his decision to broader criticisms of the Biden administration’s policies. He also pointed out that Hunter Biden was currently in South Africa, a country from which Trump had recently suspended US aid over alleged human rights violations.

The decision is part of a broader pattern of revocations since Trump returned to office in January. His administration has previously stripped security clearances from former President Joe Biden and dozens of ex-officials, as well as legal teams associated with Democratic opponents. High-profile figures such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and former White House chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci have also lost their government security details.

The White House defended these decisions, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that individuals are not entitled to security protection or clearances for life. She noted that those affected, including the Biden family, have the financial means to arrange for private security.

Trump’s own post-presidency security measures have come under scrutiny. Following his first term, he authorised an unusual six-month extension of Secret Service protection for all four of his adult children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany—as well as three senior administration officials. That measure cost taxpayers approximately $1.7 million, according to a Washington Post analysis of spending records.

The Biden administration has not yet responded to the revocation of Hunter and Ashley Biden’s security details. However, the move is expected to draw criticism from political opponents who argue it represents an act of political retribution rather than a policy-based decision.