WASHINGTON – President Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for Mike Pompeo years after Iran threatened to assassinate him, a White House official confirmed to the Post.
Pompeo, who served as President Trump's CIA director and secretary of state, reportedly had his national security details withdrawn on Tuesday. First reported by the New York Times. Former aide Brian Hook was also stripped of his security clearance.
Former administration members are typically not given Secret Service details after leaving office. But former President Joe Biden had given Pompeo, Hook and former national security adviser John Bolton top security priorities amid continued threats from Iran.
“I think there was enough time. We take the job, you take the job, you want to take the job, but we're not going to guarantee people the rest of their lives. Why not? Why not?'' President Trump told reporters Tuesday about lifting Bolton's protections.
Pompeo has yet to make a public statement about his details being revoked, but Bolton said the “threat” from Iran remains and that “it's up to the American people to decide which president made the right decision.” You can decide for yourself.”
The State Department revealed in a 2022 document obtained by The Associated Press that it paid more than $2 million a month to protect Pompeo and Hook.
Mr. Pompeo was one of the key figures who wanted Iran to retaliate for the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qasem Suleimani in 2020.
In 2022, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei's Website An animated video has been released showing Mr Pompeo and Mr Trump being targeted by a remote-controlled robotic weapon that has taken control of Mr Trump's golf course.
A text message in the video then says, “The perpetrators and those who ordered Soleimani's murder will pay the price,” before the screen faded to black before Trump and Pompeo were taken out with the deadly weapons.
President Trump has been briefed in recent months that Iran was planning to assassinate him and that the threat dates back to his first administration.
“A major threat to my life from Iran. Across America. [sic] The military is watching and waiting,” Trump wrote last summer after the then-presidential candidate made his second assassination attempt while playing golf at a Florida golf course.
“Iran has already taken action and it didn't work, but they will try again. It's not a good situation for anyone.”
