Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has lost both his security clearance and Secret Service protection, as President Donald Trump moves to remove what he describes as “deep-state actors” from positions of influence.
The decision comes amid Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the federal government and hold former officials accountable for actions deemed detrimental to national security.
Shortly after Trump assumed office, the Secret Service detail assigned to Bolton was terminated.
Bolton responded on X, formerly Twitter, expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision while contrasting Trump’s actions with those of his successor, Joe Biden.
“I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service,” Bolton wrote.
He noted that Biden extended his protection in 2021 despite Bolton’s public criticisms of Biden’s national-security policies.
Bolton referenced the continuing threats to his safety, citing a 2022 criminal case against an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official accused of attempting to hire a hitman to target him.
“That threat remains today, as also demonstrated by the recent arrest of someone trying to arrange for President Trump’s own assassination,” Bolton stated.
In addition to losing his Secret Service protection, Bolton’s security clearance was revoked following the publication of his 2019 memoir, which detailed his time in the Trump administration.
