Trump has terminated Dr. Anthony Fauci's security deal

Trump Ends Fauci’s Security Detail, Says He Can Pay for His Own Protection

President Donald Trump has terminated the security detail provided to Dr. Anthony Fauci by the National Institutes of Health, a source familiar with the decision told CNN. The protection was pulled on Thursday night.

Despite ongoing threats related to his public role during the Covid-19 pandemic, Fauci has now hired private security at his own expense, the source said.

Part of Trump’s Broader Retribution Moves

The decision comes as Trump continues his purge of former officials who served under him. Security details were also removed for former national security adviser John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"When you work for government … at some point, your security detail comes off. You can’t have them forever," Trump said Friday while touring storm damage in North Carolina.

When asked if he would feel responsible if something were to happen to Fauci or Bolton, Trump dismissed concerns.

"They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security. I can even give them some good numbers for very good security people," Trump told CNN’s Betsy Klein.

Trump Criticizes Biden’s Fauci Pardon

Since Monday, Trump has repeatedly attacked President Joe Biden’s decision to preemptively pardon Fauci, which was one of Biden’s final acts before leaving office.

"Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact, have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances," Biden said at the time.

Fauci, who served as the nation’s top infectious diseases expert for 38 years, was awarded a presidential commendation by Trump for his role in Operation Warp Speed, though Trump later claimed he didn’t know who approved it.

Rising Threats Against Fauci

Fauci has been a frequent target of far-right attacks.

During a contentious House hearing this summer on the government’s Covid-19 response, Fauci linked increased death threats against him and his family to public figures spreading conspiracy theories.

"It’s a pattern," Fauci told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in June. "When someone in the media or in Congress says I’m responsible for the deaths of X number of people or that I created the virus, the death threats go way up—like clockwork."