Privilege Revoked: Hunter and Ashley Biden Quietly Stripped of Secret Service Protection—And What Happened Next Has America Deeply Divided

They were once among the most protected civilians in America.
Now, they’re alone.

In a decision that sent shockwaves across Washington—and sparked furious debate across both cable networks and kitchen tables—President Donald Trump has officially revoked Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden.

And while the move may appear procedural on paper, those close to the Biden family say it was anything but.

“This wasn’t about protocol,” one former White House staffer told us.
“This was a message.”

The president’s announcement came hours after a reporter asked Trump about Hunter’s detail. The president said he had not been aware of it but would look into it.

President Donald Trump ends Hunter and Ashley Biden’s Secret Service detail

The Quiet Privilege No One Talked About—Until It Was Gone

After Joe Biden left office in January 2025, he extended Secret Service protection to his two children—Hunter and Ashley—for six months, a common courtesy offered by outgoing presidents.

Trump did the same for his own children in 2021.

But last weekend, when a reporter pressed Trump about the cost of continuing Hunter Biden’s detail during an overseas trip, the President raised his eyebrows.

“Wait—he’s still getting protection?” Trump asked, visibly annoyed. “We’ll look into that.”

Twelve hours later, a statement was posted to Truth Social.
And just like that, the protection was gone.

The Biden children aren’t the only ones to lose their government protection. In the first month of his presidency Trump removed security details for his former National Security Adviser John Bolton and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Hunter and Ashley Biden in May 2023 batduockonchocopnay

Hunter’s legal letter claims he has struggled to find a new home for himself, wife Melissa Cohen Biden, 38, and toddler Beau Jr., age four, after the January fires

The Announcement That Changed Everything

“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the U.S. taxpayer,” Trump wrote.
“There are as many as 18 people on this detail, which is ridiculous!”

“He is currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa—where human rights have been strenuously questioned.”

Trump concluded:

“Effective immediately, Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection.”

The message was blunt.
The timing? Unmistakable.

A Family Caught Off Guard—Or Did They Know It Was Coming?

Sources close to the Bidens say Hunter and Ashley received no formal advance notice from the administration.

According to one legal aide:

“They found out through the same post the rest of America did.”

While the White House has made no official comment, one senior adviser admitted privately:

“The President considers this a matter of fairness. He believes Hunter abused the protection.”

But critics are asking: Was this truly about cost—or about sending a public message to a private family already under pressure?

The Mansion, the Trip, and the Breaking Point

Hunter Biden had recently been photographed in Cape Town, South Africa, staying at a $500-per-night beachfront villa alongside wife Melissa Cohen and their four-year-old son, Beau Jr.

Melissa, notably, is South African by birth.

The trip—though unannounced—was reportedly planned months in advance as a family retreat following the January fires that destroyed part of their D.C. rental property.

But what turned a personal escape into a political scandal was the revelation that 18 Secret Service agents were reportedly assigned to protect Hunter during the trip.

Estimated cost to taxpayers: upwards of $500,000.

“He’s not in office. He’s not running for anything,” said one Trump campaign adviser. “Why is he being treated like a cabinet member?”

Ashley Biden: Caught in the Crossfire

Though most of the media focus has been on Hunter, Ashley Biden’s protection was also rescinded.

She had a 13-agent detail, mainly based out of Philadelphia, where she runs a trauma-informed wellness center for formerly incarcerated women.

Now, with her security team dissolved, concerns are growing about her safety.

“Ashley never asked for any of this,” said a friend. “She’s not political. She’s just Joe’s daughter—and now she’s exposed.”

The center, Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, received a $250,000 donation from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation last year—which has since come under scrutiny by conservative think tanks.

“The optics are awful,” said one D.C. strategist. “One week she’s getting royal funding. The next, she’s stripped of protection.”

Hunter’s Financial Spiral Just Got Worse

For Hunter, the loss of protection adds to an already mounting crisis.

According to court filings from March:

His art sales have dried up
His memoir revenue has collapsed
He’s behind on child support and alimony
And he has yet to secure permanent housing after the January fires

One legal letter summarized it grimly:

“Plaintiff is focused entirely on relocation, damage recovery, and the basic cost of living.”

Insiders say he’s now juggling:

$5,000 per month in child support for daughter Navy Joan Roberts
$2.9 million owed in alimony to ex-wife Kathleen Buhle
And a federal investigation into whether he misrepresented art sales during prior legal proceedings

“This isn’t just a man in crisis,” said one former campaign lawyer. “It’s a man completely untethered.”

A Family Without a Net—And America Is Watching

The Secret Service, for its part, has declined to comment.

But former agents say the decision is unprecedented in tone if not in practice.

“Presidents rescind protection. That’s routine,” one retired agent said. “But not like this. Not with this kind of public shaming.”

And that tone has become the heart of the debate:

Was this a necessary fiscal decision?
Or a personal jab at a former rival’s family?

Even some conservatives are privately uneasy.

“It plays well online,” admitted one GOP strategist. “But it looks like punishment.”

The Public Reacts—And the Divide Grows Wider

Social media is, predictably, on fire.

“About time the freeloaders lost their perks!”
“Joe Biden’s kids are not above scrutiny.”
“Hunter’s a disaster—and we’ve been paying for it.”

But others pushed back:

“This isn’t how a president behaves.”
“You don’t make kids collateral damage.”
“Ashley Biden runs a non-profit. What did she do wrong?”

The hashtag #PrivilegeRevoked trended nationwide.

So did #PettyPresident.

What Happens Now?

Without protection, Hunter and Ashley now face the logistical nightmare of personal security—especially during travel or public appearances.

Hunter has reportedly hired private security short-term while trying to relocate his family.

Ashley’s nonprofit is considering shifting to remote operations until further notice.

The Biden family has not issued a collective statement.

But one close confidant said:

“They’re heartbroken. Not because of the loss of agents—but because of what it says about where we are as a country.”

Ashley Biden launched Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, a trauma-informed wellness center’ for women based in Philadelphia

Conclusion: More Than Protection Was Taken Away

This story isn’t just about security details or taxpayer cost.

It’s about what happens when political consequences hit personal lives—publicly, brutally, and without warning.

Hunter Biden may have made mistakes.

Ashley Biden may not be perfect.

But what Americans are now debating is whether the children of presidents—regardless of party—should be punished for who their parents are.

One observer put it best:

“If this is how we treat families now, what happens when it’s yours?”