On Monday, President Donald Trump revoked former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s Secret Service protection, a move that Bolton publicly criticized during an interview with CNN. Bolton, who served under Trump before leaving in 2019, questioned the decision, calling it typical of Trump’s character. He noted that President Biden had authorized the protection due to threats against him, citing concerns from Iran, which had previously plotted against Bolton.
Trump explained his decision, saying, “We’re not going to have security on people for the rest of their lives. Why should we?” Bolton, however, expressed disappointment and reiterated that Biden had extended the protection, despite Bolton’s criticisms of his foreign policy.
Bolton’s tenure under Trump ended due to policy disagreements, and after leaving, he published a critical memoir about the administration. Additionally, in 2022, the U.S. charged an Iranian operative for attempting to assassinate Bolton in retaliation for the U.S. airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani.