Trump Revokes Security From Someone Else
President Trump has made the decision to revoke the security detail for former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, adding him to a growing list of former officials who have had their security protections stripped after becoming vocal critics of the President.
Esper, who held the position of Secretary of Defense from July 2019 to November 2020, had his security detail taken away on Tuesday night, as reported by several media outlets. His security measures had been provided by the Defense Department following threats made by Iran, particularly after the U.S. took out Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
The move to revoke Esper’s security detail comes as no surprise to those familiar with the strained relationship between the former Pentagon chief and President Trump. In the months leading up to his firing in November 2020, the two men had clashed publicly. A key point of contention was Esper’s opposition to using active-duty military troops to handle civil unrest during the summer of 2020 protests. This was part of a larger debate during Trump’s first term regarding the role of U.S. forces in domestic matters, with Esper standing firm on his belief that the military should not be deployed for such purposes.
In recent times, Esper has continued to criticize Trump, particularly when it comes to his choice of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Esper has alleged that Patel nearly jeopardized a special forces mission to rescue an American hostage in Africa by misleading his superiors on airspace clearance—an accusation Patel’s spokesperson has denied.
Trump’s actions mirror those taken against other former officials who have publicly opposed him. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and retired General Mark Milley have also had their security details revoked after becoming vocal critics of the administration. In fact, Milley, whose security clearance was removed on January 28, has repeatedly blasted Trump, calling him a “fascist” both in public and in his books.
In return, Trump has not minced words. He has called for severe consequences for those who have challenged him, even suggesting that General Milley should face execution. The removal of security details is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Trump and the former officials who have turned against him.