Trump Revokes Security Details for Ex-Officials Despite Persistent Threats
In a striking decision during his return to the presidency, Donald Trump has ended the security protection for three of his former administration officials—Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook, and John Bolton—despite credible threats against them. This move, made within 72 hours of Trump's second term, has drawn significant attention, particularly given the volatile context surrounding the individuals involved.
Pompeo, Trump’s former Secretary of State, Hook, a senior aide, and Bolton, his former National Security Advisor, were granted protective details during Joe Biden’s presidency. Intelligence agencies deemed these men to be under serious risk, especially from Iranian operatives, due to their actions during Trump’s first term. One of the most notable decisions under Trump’s leadership was the 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, an act that escalated tensions between the two nations and put key American officials on Iran’s radar for retaliation.
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The Biden administration had briefed Trump’s incoming team about the ongoing threats against the trio, particularly warning of assassination plots orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, despite these warnings, the Trump administration opted to revoke their state-provided security details. This decision echoes Trump's earlier actions during his first term when Bolton’s security protections were similarly removed following his departure from the administration, leading to Bolton becoming one of Trump’s vocal critics.
Bolton himself expressed dismay at the latest development, labeling Trump’s decision unsurprising but disappointing. The threats he and the others face are not hypothetical; just last year, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Shahram Poursafi, an alleged IRGC member, for attempting to hire individuals to assassinate Bolton in a murder-for-hire plot spanning from 2021 to 2022.
The broader implications of this decision are profound. By revoking these protections, Trump risks both the personal safety of his former officials and the broader perception of how seriously his administration takes threats against U.S. personnel. With tensions between the U.S. and Iran still high, the decision has raised questions about its motivations and potential consequences. As these officials navigate a dangerous landscape, the revocation of their security details underscores the complex and often controversial nature of Trump’s governance.
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