President Trump revoked security protection for his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and a former top aide, Brian Hook, despite warnings from the Biden administration that both men faced ongoing threats from Iran because of actions they took on Mr. Trump’s behalf, four people with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. Mr. Pompeo and Mr. Hook had been part of an aggressive posture against Iran during the first Trump presidency, most notably the drone strike that killed the powerful Iranian general Qassim Suleimani in early 2020. Mr. Trump also remains under threat because of that action, and his advisers have regularly stressed the seriousness of the situation in the years between his two terms in office.
U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked security protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former aide Brian Hook, both of whom served in his first administration, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Representatives for the White House could not be immediately reached for comment on the report, which citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Trump on Tuesday said he had withdrawn protection for his former national security adviser, John Bolton.
President Donald Trump reportedly removed security protection for former State Secretary Mike Pompeo. Another former top aide, Brian Hook, was also stripped of protection, four people familiar with the developments told the New York Times. The protection, believed to be provided by the State Department, was removed Tuesday. Additionally, former Trump national security adviser John Bolton’s security service was removed Monday during the first hours of Trump’s presidency. The outlet reported that the president has told people he doesn’t want anyone who worked under Pompeo during his first term in his second administration. Hook was singled out and fired by Trump within 13 hours of taking office in a Truth Social post. He was a presidential appointee to the Wilson Center for Scholars, a position given by former President Joe Biden.
