Friday, January 24, 2025

Trump strips security from Fauci, Bolton, Pompeo: Tracker

Trump strips security from Fauci, Bolton, Pompeo: Tracker:

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.

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