- President Trump revoked Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris in a letter to Homeland Security on Thursday.
- Vice presidents typically receive six months of protection post-office, but Biden extended Harris' protection an extra year.
- Next month, Harris will be embarking on a high-profile book tour for her new memoir about her presidential campaign.
President Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, one of her senior advisers told multiple sources on Friday.
“The Vice President is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication and unwavering commitment to safety,” the adviser said, per NBC News.
According to Fox News, there was no reason given as to why the protection was removed.
How long do former vice presidents receive Secret Service protection?
Federal law states that former vice presidents receive six months of protection after leaving office, per CNN.
Legislation was passed in 2008 authorizing the Secret Service to protect former vice presidents, their spouses and any children under 16 years old for up to six months after leaving office, per NBC News.
Harris’ six-month period ended on July 21. Harris’ protection was extended for an extra year by a directive signed by then-President Joe Biden shortly before he left office. The directive was not made public until now.
Trump canceled the directive from Biden in a letter on Thursday titled “Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security,” per CNN.
“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” the letter reads.
Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, had his Secret Service protection removed on July 21, following federal law, per Fox News.
Threats against presidents and presidential candidates
Trump revoking Harris’ protection comes soon before she starts a multi-city, high-profile book tour for the release of her new memoir “107 Days,” which is about her short presidential campaign. The book will be released on Sept. 23 and the tour will take her to major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, per CNN.
It is common for presidents and presidential candidates to face frequent security threats. Last year there were two assassination attempts against Trump during his run for president.
Harris faced a number of threats both as vice president and presidential candidate, per NBC News.
The detail assigned to Harris will move to New York on an assignment to work on the United Nations General Assembly, which will take place next month. The detail will then be reassigned.
What Gov. Newsom said about the protection being revoked
Harris currently lives in Los Angeles, and CNN reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on Harris’ protection being revoked late Thursday. There has not been any comment on security arrangements or methods that may be activated as a replacement for Secret Service protection.
Newsom spokesperson Bob Salladay did express frustration with Trump pulling her protection.
“The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses,” Salladay said to CNN.
Since Harris is a Los Angeles resident, she could receive protection from the city’s police department. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom were in touch about the situation on Thursday evening.
“This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more. This puts the former Vice President in danger and I look forward to working with the Governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles,” Bass said in a statement, per CNN.