US President Donald Trump has canceled Secret Service protection for former 49th Vice President and Democrat Kamala Harris, who ran against him in the 2024 election, a senior White House official said on Friday, August 29.
Former vice presidents typically receive six months of Secret Service protection as standard protocol after leaving office. Before leaving office last January, then-President Joe Biden extended Harris’s protection until January 2026, officials said, according to Reuters.
In September, Harris will embark on a 15-city book tour, starting in New York City, for her memoir, “107 Days,” about her failed 2024 presidential campaign. Harris was the Democratic nominee for 107 days after Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, 2024, after a heated debate with Trump. Then, she lost the presidential election to Trump.
Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian to serve as vice president of the United States, was informed in a letter dated Thursday that the withdrawal of additional security would take effect on Sept. 1, the official said.
Security experts have warned that reducing protective measures for the sitting Vice President could create unnecessary risks. Given Harris’s visibility, the decision is seen as unusual compared to past norms. Critics argue that such a move might be politically motivated, considering Trump’s ongoing criticism of the Biden-Harris administration and his strained relationship with Harris personally.
Democrats have condemned the decision, calling it reckless and potentially dangerous. Several lawmakers are reportedly pressing the Kamala Harris Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service for clarity on whether the change undermines established security protocols.
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Republicans, meanwhile, are divided. While some suggest the Secret Service may simply be adjusting resources based on updated threat assessments, others acknowledge that the optics of ending added protection for a sitting Vice President could be damaging.
There are still concerns over Kamala Harris case, including if President Biden or DHS may step in to keep Harris safe. Legal experts point out that although former presidents still have some say over their security details, the present administration usually makes active judgments on the Vice President’s safety.
For now, the announcement has injected another layer of political tension into an already charged election season. With Vice President Harris expected to play a key role in the Democrats’ 2024 campaign strategy, the debate over her security is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.