Trump revokes secret service protection for Kamala Harris ahead of book tour

Donald Trump, the United States president has revoked Secret Service protection for his political opponent, former vice president Kamala Harris, in a move that has raised questions about security, politics and precedent.

According to a letter dated Thursday and obtained by CNN, Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to discontinue protection for Harris, effective September 1. The letter instructed officials to cancel an earlier executive memorandum signed by then-president Joe Biden, which had quietly extended Harris’ protection beyond the six months guaranteed to all former vice presidents under federal law.

“Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security” and dated Thursday.

“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” the letter reads in full.

Harris, who left office in January 2025, was legally entitled to Secret Service protection until July 21. Biden’s directive, never made public until now, granted her an additional year of round-the-clock security. Trump’s cancellation order effectively ends that arrangement just as Harris is set to return to the public spotlight.

The former vice president will embark later this month on a multi-city book tour promoting her memoir 107 Days, a reflection on her brief presidential campaign. The tour, starting September 23, is expected to draw large crowds and renewed media attention, heightening concerns about her personal safety.

A Secret Service official told CNN the decision was not the result of a security review or threat assessment. Agency leadership did not raise objections to the White House order, the source said, though Harris’ protective detail normally ranged from a dozen to several dozen agents covering her around the clock.

Harris’ team responded cautiously. “The Vice President is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety,” her senior adviser Kirsten Allen said in a statement.

Local officials in California quickly signalled they would step in if needed. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass described Trump’s move as “another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more.” She pledged to work with California governor Gavin Newsom to ensure Harris receives police protection when in Los Angeles.

Under U.S. law, former presidents are entitled to Secret Service protection for life, but former vice presidents receive far more limited coverage. Extensions beyond the initial six months are rare, and typically only granted at the discretion of a sitting president.