On March 17, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the immediate termination of U.S. Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, the adult children of former President Joe Biden.

In his statement on social media, Trump criticized the extensive taxpayer-funded security details assigned to both Bidens, noting that Hunter’s detail consisted of 18 agents and Ashley’s of 13 agents.

Trump further highlighted Hunter Biden’s current vacation in South Africa, a nation recently removed from U.S. economic assistance due to concerns over human rights issues. He expressed disapproval of taxpayer money funding protection for such trips, especially given South Africa’s contentious human rights record.

The Secret Service confirmed awareness of the president’s directive and is actively coordinating with the protective details and the White House to ensure compliance.

Under federal law, former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection, while their immediate family members’ protection typically ends when they leave office. However, both Trump and Biden extended Secret Service protection for their children for six months after leaving office.

This decision has sparked discussions about the appropriate duration and scope of Secret Service protection for former presidents’ family members, especially in light of past extensions and the associated taxpayer costs.