Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump terminated the Secret Service protection for John Bolton, his former national security adviser. Bolton, who left the Trump administration in 2019, had been receiving protection due to threats from Iran, particularly following Trump’s 2020 order to assassinate Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.
While President Joe Biden reinstated Bolton’s protection during his term, Trump’s recent decision has drawn criticism. Bolton expressed disappointment, highlighting ongoing threats, including a 2022 Justice Department charge against an Iranian official for plotting his assassination. Bolton, a long-time critic of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, noted that public opinion could decide which administration made the correct judgment.
Bolton’s relationship with Trump has been contentious since his 2019 dismissal over policy disagreements and the release of his 2020 memoir, which was critical of Trump’s foreign policy decisions and leadership style. As one of his first actions in office, Trump also revoked security clearances for Bolton and other former national security officials.
