Former US Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as US President Donald Trump receives applause.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Washington: President Donald Trump has terminated former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection, according to a letter obtained by The New York Times. Trump signed a memorandum Thursday that will end Harris’ protection as of Monday.
The Secret Service usually protects a former vice president for six months after they leave office, but President Joe Biden had signed an order extending Harris’ protection beyond that, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. Without that extension, Harris’ protection would have concluded in July.
“The vice president is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety,” Kirsten Allen, a senior adviser to Harris, said in a statement.
The White House declined to comment. The Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The end of Harris’ protection comes just before she is set to embark on a nationwide tour to promote her new book about her presidential campaign. The book, titled “107 Days,” is scheduled to be published Sept. 23.
Trump’s decision to revoke her security detail was reported earlier by CNN.
Since taking office, Trump has ended Secret Service protection for a number of people. Within hours of being sworn in, he removed the security detail for John Bolton, one of his former national security advisers with whom he had a falling out. He also revoked protection for Mike Pompeo, one of his former secretaries of state, and Brian Hook, a former aide, despite warnings that the men faced ongoing threats from Iran.
In March, Trump also ended Secret Service protection for Biden’s children, Hunter and Ashley. Biden had issued an executive order that extended protection to them.