Like a Vindictive Dictator: Trump Strips Kamala Harris of Protection — The Bad, The Good, The Ugly.

Like a Vindictive Dictator: Trump Strips Kamala Harris of Protection — The Bad, The Good, The Ugly.

In the USA.

The news as it trends

In a move that stunned political observers and added to the growing list of news trending in Trump’s orbit today, President Donald Trump revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris just days before her public book tour.

The decision, which reversed an 18-month extension granted by President Biden, left Harris without federal security support at a time of heightened visibility.

The optics are brutal. Revoking protection from a former vice president—especially the first woman of color to hold the office—feels personal, petty, and politically charged.

Critics liken it to authoritarian behavior, wielding security as a weapon of retribution.

Legally, Trump had the authority.

Former vice presidents are only guaranteed six months of protection after leaving office. Extensions fall under the Department of Homeland Security, which the president influences.

The timing couldn’t be worse.

Harris is stepping into the public eye again, and stripping her of protection raises real safety concerns. It also sets a troubling precedent—security decisions driven by politics, not principle.

Whether you see it as lawful or lawless, one thing’s clear:

Trump didn’t just pull the plug—he sent a message. And it’s one that echoes far beyond Kamala Harris.

Now, to get to the nitty-gritty of it—and to answer what many have been asking online:

Under 18 U.S. Code § 3056, the U.S. Secret Service is legally required to protect the vice president, their spouse, and children under 16 while they are in office.

This protection is mandatory and cannot be revoked by any president.

Once a vice president leaves office, the law guarantees six months of continued protection.

After that, protection can be extended or revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), often based on recommendations from the Secret Service and influenced by the sitting president.

Kamala Harris is the first known case of a former vice president having their protection revoked.

After her term ended, President Biden extended her protection to 18 months.

In August 2025, President Trump revoked that extension, ending her Secret Service detail.

This was legal, as Harris was no longer in office and beyond the six-month guaranteed window.

Once protection is revoked, the former vice president loses federal security support.

This means all the security personnel previously assigned to her leave immediately.

She may now hire private security, especially as she begins her book tour.

It also means she no longer receives federal threat assessments or surveillance.

It’s a dramatic shift—especially for someone still in the public eye.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog.