Trump revokes Kamala Harris’ extended Secret Service protection
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The US president revokes Kamala Harris’ extended Secret Service protection just weeks before her 2025 memoir book tour begins.
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivers the keynote speech at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco, April 30, 2025 (AP, File)
US President Donald Trump has rescinded extended Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, just weeks before she launches a high-profile book tour.
Under federal law, former vice presidents receive Secret Service protection for six months after leaving office. Harris’ standard coverage ended on July 21, 2025. However, before leaving the White House, President Joe Biden issued an executive order extending her protection through January 2026.
On August 29, Trump overturned that extension, directing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to terminate the additional detail effective September 1.
Harris’ upcoming memoir tour
The timing of the decision is notable. Harris is scheduled to begin a 15-city book tour on September 24 to promote her memoir 107 Days, which recounts her rapid 2024 presidential campaign following Biden’s withdrawal from the race. The tour will include stops across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with events at major venues such as The Met in Philadelphia, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, and London’s theaters.
Her memoir and tour represent her most significant public re-entry since her 2024 electoral defeat. Harris has also ruled out running in the 2026 California governor’s race, leaving her political future open-ended.
Heightened security concerns for women politicians
The decision has raised concerns due to Harris’ history of facing threats. As the first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president, she has been a frequent target of harassment. Research by the Inter-Parliamentary Union found that over 80% of women parliamentarians worldwide have faced psychological violence, while nearly half reported threats of death, rape, or abduction.
In 2024, multiple individuals were charged with making threats against Harris, including a Virginia man accused of plotting violence against her and Barack Obama and a Florida man who sent her videos displaying weapons.
Kirsten Allen, a senior advisor to Harris, expressed gratitude at the time to the Secret Service, stating, “The Vice President is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety.”
Political and local reactions
Trump’s move fits into a broader pattern of revoked protections since returning to office. Other figures, including Hunter and Ashley Biden, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Anthony Fauci, and Alejandro Mayorkas, have also had their protection withdrawn.
Local officials in California sharply criticized the decision. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it “another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation,” adding that it placed Harris in danger.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office similarly condemned the move, with spokesperson Bob Sallady stating, “The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.”
