President Trump on Friday defended the removal of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail, suggesting former government officials should not get indefinite security even as Fauci and others have faced threats.
“When you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off. And you know, you can’t have them forever. So, I think it’s very standard,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina.
Asked if he would feel partially responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, Trump said he would not, adding that Fauci and others could hire private security.
“You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too,” Trump said. “Certainly I would not take responsibility.”
The New York Times first reported that Trump ended Fauci’s security detail, which was being provided by the National Institutes of Health.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said late Thursday on social media that he had sent “supporting information to end the 24 hr a day limo and security detail for Fauci.”