News/Commentary

Trump hating ex-Secretary of Defense latest to lose his free security detail

February 6, 2025 | | Print Article

American taxpayers will no longer be footing the bill for former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s security detail.

Esper, who also served as secretary of the Army in President Donald Trump’s first administration, becomes the latest to lose his government-provided security as details were removed for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

A U.S. official and a Defense Department official told CBS News about the removal of Esper’s security though the Defense Department, which provided the security because of threats from Iran over the 2020 killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, had not commented to the outlet.

“When you have protection, you can’t have it for the rest of your life,” Trump responded to reporters asking about ending security details last month. “I mean, there’s risks to everything.”

“To ensure the safety and security of any potential protectee, DoD does not disclose details regarding security measures for current or former officials,” a defense official told The Hill in a statement. “Additionally, consistent with the Privacy Act, we do not comment on the status of an individual’s security clearance.”

Esper served as Pentagon chief from July 2019 until November 2020 when he was “terminated” by then-President Trump after the election. Trump has referred to him as “Yesper” and the former official maligned Trump in his 2022 memoir, “A Sacred Oath.”

Esper told the New York Times at the time that Trump was “an unprincipled person who, given his self-interest, should not be in the position of public service.”

Former Iran envoy Brian Hook also lost his security protection as did former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who also had his security clearance yanked by the Pentagon.

Esper’s loss of protection was met with applause on social media where many of the president’s supporters agreed that lifetime security at taxpayer expense is untenable, especially for those who can afford to provide their own.

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Frieda Powers
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