Former President Donald Trump defended his recent decision to terminate U.S. Secret Service protection for Dr. Anthony Fauci and former National Security Advisor John Bolton, stating they could afford their own security.

The announcement was made during a press briefing on Thursday, where Trump addressed reporters’ questions about the rationale behind the move.

🚨 #BREAKING: President Donald Trump terminates Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail – CNN

It was pulled last night.

Fauci will now have to pay for his own private security. pic.twitter.com/rnkxHU5GkK

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 24, 2025

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“When you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off. You can’t have them forever, so I think it’s very standard,” Trump explained.

He added that it was “very fair” to reevaluate whether individuals like Fauci still required government-provided protection several years after leaving their official roles.

Dr. Fauci, who served as a pandemic advisor during the Trump administration, has been a divisive figure in American politics.

After leaving public service, he released a memoir titled He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, which included details about his interactions with Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The memoir reportedly earned Fauci $5 million and included claims that Trump often berated him during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

“The president was irate, saying that I could not keep doing this to him,” Fauci wrote in his book.

“He said he loved me, but the country was in trouble, and I was making it worse.”

Fauci further alleged that Trump blamed him for financial setbacks, including claiming he had cost the country “one trillion dollars” due to his handling of vaccine announcements.

When asked if he would feel responsible if “something were to happen” to Fauci or Bolton after their protection was revoked, Trump dismissed the notion.

“No,” he replied. “They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too.”

Trump also emphasized that the decision to end Secret Service protection was not unique to Fauci or Bolton.

“We took some off other people, too,” he noted, reiterating that it is not feasible for government employees to retain lifetime security details simply because of their former roles.

Dr. Fauci has remained a vocal critic of Trump in recent years, often recounting his experiences working with the former president during the pandemic.

His memoir painted a picture of a tense relationship, despite Trump’s occasional public expressions of admiration.

“I have a pretty thick skin,” Fauci wrote, “but getting yelled at by the president of the United States, no matter how much he tells you that he loves you, is not fun.”

The decision to end protection for Fauci and Bolton comes as Trump continues to make significant personnel changes within federal agencies.

Sean Curran, Trump’s longtime head of security, was recently appointed to lead the Secret Service, signaling potential further restructuring within the agency.

Dr. Fauci, once considered a trusted public health expert, has faced increased criticism from conservatives for his handling of the pandemic and his subsequent tell-all book.

Bolton, another former Trump administration official, has also been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken criticism of Trump in recent years.

As the Secret Service moves forward under new leadership, Trump’s decision to withdraw protection for high-profile figures like Fauci and Bolton highlights his continued influence over federal operations and his no-nonsense approach to government expenditures.

Whether this decision will prompt any legal or political challenges remains to be seen.