US President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is immediately ending Secret Service protection for Joe Biden’s adult children, reversing an extension granted by the former president before leaving office.

“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer,” Trump said in a Truth social post.

He further criticised what he claimed were 18 agents assigned to Hunter Biden’s security detail in South Africa and 13 for Ashley Biden. “She too will be taken off the list,” he wrote on social media.

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The Secret Service confirmed the decision and said it is “actively working with the protective details and the White House to ensure compliance as soon as possible.”

Former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong Secret Service protection, but security for their children over 16 expires when they leave office unless extended for six months. However, both Trump and Biden previously authorised such extensions.

Meanwhile, this is not the first instance of Trump revoking security details. In January, he withdrew protection for former officials Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook, and John Bolton, despite warnings from US intelligence that they faced threats from Iran due to their roles in his first administration.

Under US protocol, senior officials other than former presidents and their spouses are not automatically guaranteed ongoing protection. But US intelligence agencies deemed Hook, Pompeo and Bolton to be under significant risk, which prompted the Biden administration to grant them protection.

(With Inputs from AP)