Recent reports have indicated that President Donald Trump removed Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail, which was being paid for by the National Institute of Health. Following his leadership under the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci has become a deeply divisive and unpopular figure in American politics, leading to threats against his safety.
Trump addressed the news during a press conference as he was visiting Western North Carolina on Friday, arguing that government employees are not entitled to lifetime security details funded by taxpayer dollars. According to reports, Fauci has hired his own personal security. Trump has also revoked security details for former national security advisor John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A reporter asked Trump, “The security detail for Anthony Fauci was terminated last night. And I’m wondering if you have any comment?” The president responded, “I think you know, when you work for government … at some point, your security detail comes off, and you know, you can’t have them forever.”
He added, “So I think it’s very standard, if it would be for somebody else, you wouldn’t be asking the question.” Trump emphasized, “The question is very fair, but, you know, you work for government. 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.”
After being asked if he would bear responsibility should something happen to Fauci, Trump suggested his vast wealth could cover private security. “They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security too. All the people you’re talking about, they can go out, I can give them some good numbers of very good security people. They can hire their own security. They all made a lot of money. Fauci made a lot of money,” he said.
Dr. Fauci also received a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden. In his final hours before leaving office, Biden extended offers of legal immunity to figures such as Dr. Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, various members of his own family, and members of the January 6 Committee. The move demonstrates a fear among Democrats that Trump will pursue political retribution.
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