CNN
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President Donald Trump has released the security detail of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was under continued protection due to threats from Iran after taking a hardline policy against the country during Trump’s first administration. Canceled.
The decision to strip Pompeo of his State Department security detail, first reported by the New York Times, comes shortly after Trump terminated the Secret Service detail assigned to his former national security adviser John Bolton.
CNN reached out to Pompeo. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When Trump was asked by a reporter Thursday about stripping security from former officials, he said, “When you have protection, you can’t have it for the rest of your life.” I did. He added: That means there is risk in everything. ”
Pompeo was deeply involved in shaping the first Trump administration’s policy toward Iran and played a role in Trump’s order to assassinate Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in early 2020.
The Justice Department said the Iranian government sought revenge against senior Trump officials involved in the killings, including Iran Hawks Pompeo and Bolton. According to the Justice Department, Bolton and Pompeo were the targets of Iran’s assassination plot.
A former intelligence official told CNN they were alarmed by the move.
“Someone will be killed. There is a credible and serious Iranian threat to Pompeo and Bolton,” they said.
Another former national security official said Trump’s decision appears to be motivated by “pure atmosphere and pettiness and Trump hoping the Iranians don’t hurt one of these people.” said.
Trump himself remains a target of Iran for its plot to kill Soleimani. His team requested increased security last summer after receiving briefings from the Biden administration that Iran was still actively plotting to kill him.
