The Trump administration has formally withdrawn Secret Service protection for former vice president Kamala Harris, ending a security extension previously granted by former president Joe Biden, a White House official confirmed Friday.
Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after Biden stepped aside during the 2024 election cycle, lost to Donald Trump in last November’s presidential race. By law, former vice presidents are entitled to Secret Service security for six months after leaving office. That period expired on July 21, but Biden had approved an extension citing heightened political tensions and Harris’s public profile.
The Trump White House, however, has now terminated that extension. The decision, first reported by CNN, is part of a broader pattern in which Trump has moved aggressively against political rivals since returning to power.
A senior aide to Harris told AFP that she was “grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety” during her tenure under protection.
Although Harris has largely maintained a low profile since her defeat, she is scheduled to re-enter the spotlight this fall with a nationwide tour to promote her forthcoming memoir, 107 Days. The book, published by Simon & Schuster and set for release on September 23, offers a candid account of her short-lived campaign against Trump.
“I wrote this book with candor and reflection,” Harris said in a statement, promising a “behind-the-scenes account” of her run for the presidency.
As the first woman to serve as vice president in U.S. history, Harris’s campaign drew historic attention, even after internal Democratic turbulence led to Biden’s withdrawal over concerns about his cognitive health.
The removal of her protection comes amid a series of actions by Trump aimed at curbing the privileges and influence of his political adversaries. In recent months, the administration has stripped several former officials of their security clearances, withdrawn federal funds from universities viewed as hostile to his policies, and ramped up investigations into critics.
Just last week, FBI agents raided the home and office of former national security adviser John Bolton, one of Trump’s most outspoken opponents, as part of a probe reportedly linked to classified materials.
Harris’s upcoming book tour, which will require frequent public appearances, is expected to intensify debates over whether the former vice president remains at risk without government security.
AFP
