FLETCHER, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci terminated the infectious disease expert who advised him on the Covid-19 pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Fauci is the latest in a series of former Trump aides to withdraw despite ongoing threats to their lives.
Speaking to reporters in North Carolina on Friday, Trump said he would feel no responsibility if the former administration official caused harm. A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues, said Fauci’s federal security detail was terminated on Thursday and that she has since hired private security.
When asked about Fauci and former national security adviser John Bolton, Trump said, “They all made a lot of money. You can also set your own security. “
Trump, a Republican, earlier this week revoked protection details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top aide Brian Hook, as well as Bolton. All have threatened Iran since joining him in tough stops on the Islamic Republic during Trump’s first administration in the years after he left office in 2021.
Fauci was a regular at Trump’s side early in the Covid-19 outbreak, becoming Trump after the president tried to undermine public health guidance. Fauci regularly risked his life and has received federal protection for years.
Bolton, Hook and Pompeo had their security details repeatedly renewed by the Biden administration due to credible and ongoing threats from Iran. Fauci’s has also been repeatedly renewed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, due to domestic threats.
“You can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you worked for the government,” Trump said.
