Dr. Fauci recently had his security detail revoked by the Trump administration. The former Chief Medical Advisor to President Donald Trump had provided policy guidance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but became a deeply polarizing figure as lockdowns. Fauci stepped down as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022.
When asked about the news at a recent press conference while visiting Western North Carolina on Friday, Trump explained that just because somebody works for the federal government, doesn’t mean they are entitled to a lifetime of personal security funded by the taxpayer. Trump also pointed out that security details were pulled for others as well.
A reporter asked Trump at the press conference, “The security detail for Anthony Fauci was terminated last night. And I’m wondering if you have any comment?” The president answered, “I think you know, when you work for government … at some point, your security detail comes off, and you know, you can’t have them forever.”
Trump continued, “So I think it’s very standard, if it would be for somebody else, you wouldn’t be asking the question.” He added, “The question is very fair, but, you know, you work for government. We took some off other people too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government.”
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The president maintained that he would not accept responsibility if harm were to be perpetrated against Fauci, noting he is wealthy enough to afford private security. “They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security too. All the people you’re talking about, they can go out, I can give them some good numbers of very good security people. They can hire their own security. They all made a lot of money. Fauci made a lot of money,” he said. Reports indicate that Fauci has hired his own private security.
In the final hours of his presidency before transferring power back to President Trump, former President Biden moved to issue preemptive pardons to his family members, Dr. Fauci, members of the January 6 Committee, and more. Biden explained that these individuals could be the victim of “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.’
Biden said, “In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”