President Trump Terminates Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Security Detail
President Donald Trump has terminated Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail, a source familiar with the situation told CNN. This decision was made on Thursday night, and Fauci has since hired his own private security detail, which he will pay for himself. This move comes as Trump continues his retribution tour against officials who previously served under him, including former national security adviser John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert for 38 years, had been receiving a security detail provided and paid for by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) due to ongoing threats stemming from his public-facing role during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Trump has now pulled this security detail, leaving Fauci to secure his own protection.
The decision comes as Trump continues to face backlash for his handling of the pandemic, and it is believed to be in retaliation for President Joe Biden’s decision to pre-emptively pardon Fauci as one of his final acts before leaving office. In a statement, Biden said, “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
Fauci’s public and professional career has been marked by his service as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and his role on the Operation Warp Speed task force during the pandemic, which was praised for its efforts to develop and distribute vaccines. As a token of his service, Trump awarded presidential commendations to Fauci and 51 other members of the Operation Warp Speed task force, although he later denied giving them the awards.
