President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, ending an extension granted by former President Joe Biden, according to a memo obtained by the BBC.
Harris was legally entitled to six months of security after leaving office in January 2025, which expired in July. However, President Biden had quietly authorized an additional year of protection. Trump reversed that directive in a memo dated August 28, instructing the Secret Service to terminate any non-mandated protective measures for Harris starting September 1.
This decision comes just as Harris prepares to launch a national book tour for her memoir, “107 Days”, which recounts her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign.
A White House official confirmed the revocation, noting that a recent threat assessment found no justification to continue the extended protection. Under U.S. law, former vice presidents, their spouses, and underage children can receive Secret Service coverage for six months after leaving office.
With the revocation, Harris will lose her protection detail in Los Angeles, including personal security agents and proactive threat monitoring. Private security of a similar scale could reportedly cost millions of dollars annually.
Her husband, Doug Emhoff, saw his protection end in July in line with the original legal timeframe.
The move has sparked criticism from Democratic leaders. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the decision, calling it politically motivated and dangerous.
“This is yet another act of political retaliation,” Mayor Bass told CNN. “It puts Kamala Harris at serious risk, and we’ll do everything necessary to ensure her safety in Los Angeles.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has revoked Secret Service protections for several figures tied to the Biden administration, including Hunter and Ashley Biden, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci. Former Trump allies like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton—now critics of the former president—have also seen their protections removed.
Security experts note that Harris received multiple threats while in office—many linked to her being the first woman and person of color to hold the vice presidency. In 2024, a Virginia man was charged with issuing death threats against Harris and former President Barack Obama, while in 2021, a Florida woman pleaded guilty to threatening Harris via video messages.
Trump himself survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign, highlighting the high-stakes security environment that continues to surround U.S. political figures.
Source: Citinewsroom
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