President Donald Trump has reportedly ended the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned infectious disease expert who played a pivotal role in advising on the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision marks Fauci as the latest among a series of former Trump aides-turned-critics to have their federal protection withdrawn, despite ongoing threats to their safety.
Trump, speaking in North Carolina, expressed that he would not bear any responsibility should any harm befall these former government officials. The termination of Fauci's federal security detail occurred on Thursday, as confirmed by a source familiar with the matter who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of security issues. Subsequently, Fauci has opted to hire private security.
Trump's decision to revoke protection details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, his top aide Brian Hook, and former national security adviser John Bolton earlier in the week is part of the same pattern. These individuals have all faced threats, particularly from Iran, due to their hard-line stances on the Islamic Republic during Trump's presidency and subsequent fallout post his term ending in 2021.
While Fauci was initially a prominent figure alongside Trump during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, he later became critical of the president's attempts to undermine public health guidance. As a result, Fauci encountered regular threats to his life, leading to him receiving federal protection for an extended period.
The Biden administration had previously renewed security details for Bolton, Hook, and Pompeo due to credible and ongoing threats from Iran. Similarly, President Joe Biden, in the case of Fauci, extended federal protection because of domestic threats that persisted.
Trump emphasized that individuals who have worked for the government cannot expect to have a security detail for life, implying that they should be responsible for arranging their own security measures.
