President Trump on Friday defended the removal of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail, suggesting former government officials should not get indefinite security even as Fauci and others have faced threats.
“When you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off. And you know, you can’t have them forever. So, I think it’s very standard,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina.
Asked if he would feel partially responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, Trump said he would not, adding that Fauci and others could hire private security.
“You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too,” Trump said. “Certainly I would not take responsibility.”
The New York Times first reported that Trump ended Fauci’s security detail, which was being provided by the National Institutes of Health.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said late Thursday on social media that he had sent “supporting information to end the 24 hr a day limo and security detail for Fauci.”
“I wish him nothing but peace but he needs to pay for his own limos,” Paul posted on X.
Fauci had for decades served as the government’s top infectious diseases expert. He was at times critical of Trump for his comments about the coronavirus pandemic and has faced intense scrutiny from Republicans. The doctor has also been targeted with death threats.
Former President Biden preemptively pardoned Fauci on his final day in office, citing concerns about politically motivated investigations into the doctor and other Trump critics.
The removal of Fauci’s detail comes after Trump had already moved to end the security details for former national security adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former State Department official Brian Hook. All three were granted additional protection because of threats against them from Iran.
Bolton, in particular, has become an outspoken critic of Trump. Pompeo briefly considered a 2024 presidential campaign and has at times been vaguely critical of his former boss, though he endorsed Trump in 2024 and has been sharply critical of Democrats.
Updated at 12:26 p.m. EST.
