Former President Donald Trump has a protective detail that follows him everywhere. His departed advisers, including John Bolton, have no such luxury as they navigate what officials describe as a credible threat environment linked to Iran.
The security disparity highlights a vulnerability that extends well beyond Trump himself. Those who served in his administration and have since become vocal critics or targets of foreign intelligence operations lack the around-the-clock protection that comes with the presidency.
Bolton, the hawkish former national security adviser, has been flagged as a potential target by Iranian operatives seeking retribution for past U.S. military actions and policy decisions. The threat is not theoretical. Intelligence assessments have indicated that Tehran views certain Trump officials as legitimate targets for assassination plots.
The Secret Service's mandate covers the sitting president and his immediate family. Former officials and advisers operate in a different legal and protective framework. While some may qualify for temporary security details under specific circumstances, the protection is far from permanent or comprehensive. Most former advisers cobble together private security arrangements at their own expense, a burden that grows heavier as threat levels rise.
This creates an uncomfortable reality for the Trump administration's former inner circle. Those who were closest to controversial decisions now find themselves exposed to foreign threats without the institutional shield they once took for granted. It raises questions about what responsibility, if any, the government bears for protecting officials who leave office and become targets because of their tenure.
Author James Rodriguez: "The gap between executive protection and no protection shouldn't force advisers to become security experts at their own expense."
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