In a surprising move, former President Trump has ended Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, just as she embarks on a high-profile book tour. This decision deviates from standard protocol and raises significant questions about the security of past officials. What does this mean for the future of political protection?
The political landscape has been significantly stirred by a recent executive decision from President Donald Trump, who has controversially revoked the Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris. This unexpected action, announced by a senior White House official, immediately ignited debates regarding the established norms of security for past government officials and the broader implications for political continuity in a deeply polarized nation.
Traditionally, former vice presidents are afforded federal government protection for a period of six months post-office, a stark contrast to the lifetime protection granted to ex-presidents. However, it was revealed that then-President Joe Biden had quietly issued a directive extending Harris’s protection beyond this conventional timeframe, a move understood to be in response to heightened security concerns and the unique political climate.
The timing of this revocation is particularly salient, coinciding with Harris’s imminent book tour for her upcoming memoir, “107 Days.” This tour, encompassing 15 stops globally, marks a significant public appearance for the former vice president, who despite her electoral loss to Trump last November, remains a prominent figure and a potential presidential candidate for 2028, having already declared her intention to run in 2026.
This action is not unprecedented in Trump’s political tenure. During his second presidency, President Donald Trump notably withdrew security for several figures perceived to have fallen out of favor, including a former national security adviser and members of the Biden family. Such decisions have consistently drawn criticism, with experts highlighting the critical importance of uninterrupted political protection, especially for high-profile individuals.
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that an executive memorandum was dispatched to the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, formalizing the termination of Harris’s security detail and associated services. The Biden administration’s extension would have maintained her Secret Service protection until July 2026, but under this new executive order, all security measures are set to cease abruptly on the upcoming Monday.
Security experts are voicing considerable alarm over the decision to strip Kamala Harris of her protection. They argue that maintaining continuity of protection is not merely a courtesy but an essential safeguard in an increasingly volatile and politically charged environment, where credible and ongoing threats against former officials are a serious consideration, regardless of their political alignment.
The backdrop to these events includes a particularly tumultuous previous year, marked by two assassination attempts against President Trump himself, during which the Secret Service played a pivotal role in ensuring his safety. This history underscores the critical function of the agency and amplifies the concerns surrounding any reduction in protection for high-ranking former officials in US politics.
