President Trump confirmed Friday he stripped security protections former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, the latest in a pattern of retaliation against political adversaries.
Why it matters: All of Trump's targets have received death threats during a time of heightened political violence.
- Read more about whose security protections have been pulled:
Anthony Fauci
The former NIAID director lost his protection late Thursday night.
- Fauci has repeatedly been forthright about death threats against himself and his family. He's now hired his own security detail, per the New York Times.
- "You can't have a security detail for the rest of your life because you worked for government," Trump said on Fox News on Friday, when asked about Fauci.
Between the lines: Former President Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Fauci on his last day in office, granting him broad immunity before Trump's term began.
- Fauci faced repeated political attacks from Trump and other Republicans over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
John Bolton
Trump's former national security adviser has faced death threats from Iran after being a fierce critic of the regime. In 2022 an Iranian national was charged in connection with a plot to assassinate Bolton.
- "This is a matter that people should take seriously," Bolton told CNN's Jake Tapper.
Context: Bolton was vocal in his criticism of Trump after working with him during his first term and ahead of his new administration.
- "It's certainly a downer for expressing your opposition to Donald Trump," Bolton said on CNN.
Mike Pompeo
Trump's former secretary of state, like Bolton, faced threats from Iran, multiple outlets reported.
- Pompeo has criticized Trump on fiscal and foreign policy and was not invited to join his second administration. However, Pompeo spent Trump's first week in office celebrating his win, Cabinet confirmations, and early executive orders.
Zoom in: Pompeo's top aide Brian Hook also lost his security, per the reports.
Go deeper: Trump's Week 1 revenge tour rips through Washington