Donald Trump has eliminated security details for three of his former administration officials since returning to the White House.
Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former top aide Brian Hook and his former national security adviser John Bolton all revoked Trump’s security clearances within 72 hours of his second term.
Trump’s decision to remove his security detail, which was believed to have been provided by the State Department, came despite warnings from the Biden administration that the two men would end their first term as president. Due to the actions taken after Trump’s orders during
Trump’s first administration was particularly aggressive against Iran. Most importantly, Trump ordered the airstrikes. Who killed Iran’s most powerful general Qassem Soleimani in early 2020.
Under US protocol, high-ranking officials other than former presidents and their spouses are not automatically guaranteed continued protection. But U.S. intelligence agencies considered Hook, Pompeo and Bolton to be in significant danger, prompting the Biden administration to grant them protection.
The new Trump administration was briefed by Biden officials about the ongoing threats against three former members of the Trump administration, but the decision was made regardless of security details. The New York Times.
Bolton previously withdrew his security detail on behalf of Trump during his first term in office after leaving the administration. After stepping down as national security adviser, he became a vocal critic of Trump. Biden had revived and expanded his reservations in 2021.
“I’m disappointed but not surprised. President Trump has decided to end the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service,” Bolton said in an email. Hill.
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The Justice Department alleged in September last year that Shahram Poursafi, a suspected member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), attempted to hire people to kill Bolton between October 2021 and April 2022. Porsafi was charged with involvement in August 2022. In a murder-for-hire plot.
