Trump ends US security for Fauci, the latest ex-official to lose protection

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina - US President Donald Trump said on Jan 24 that Dr Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease official who has faced threats since leading the country's Covid-19 response, should hire his own security, the latest former US. official to have their protection cut off since Mr Trump took office this week.

Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that federal security protection had been cancelled for Dr Fauci, a top infectious disease official whose

efforts to fight the pandemic

were applauded by many public health experts even as he was vilified by Mr Trump and many other Republicans.

Mr Trump ended federal protection for at least three other former top officials who served during his first administration since he took office for the second time on Jan 20.

Asked about media reports that he had stripped Dr Fauci’s security, Mr Trump told reporters that when you work for government, “at some point your security detail comes off, and you know, you can’t have them forever.”

“We took some off other people too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government,” he said at a press briefing in North Carolina.

The National Institutes of Health, where Dr Fauci led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic before retiring in 2022, had provided Dr Fauci’s security, according to CNN, which first reported Mr Trump’s decision.

Dr Fauci, who continues to be a target of ire years after the pandemic ended by Mr Trump ally and billionaire Elon Musk and others, will pay for private security detail, the sources told Reuters.

Former President

Joe Biden gave Dr Fauci and others a pre-emptive pardon

before leaving office, saying he worried about politically motivated prosecutions.

Other officials who saw their federal protection terminated this week also have faced specific security threats.

On Jan 21, Mr Trump said he ended security for his former national security adviser, Mr John Bolton, who was the target of an alleged Iranian plot and also became a vocal Mr Trump critic.

He also yanked protection

for his former top diplomat, Mr Mike Pompeo, and former Iran envoy Brian Hook.

Asked if he would take responsibility if something happened to Dr Fauci or to Mr Bolton, Mr Trump said: "No. You know they all made a lot of money, they can hire their own security too."

"Fauci made a lot of money. They all did... Certainly I would not take responsibility," Mr Trump said. REUTERS