US President Donald Trump withdrew security protection for Mike Pompeo, who had served as the secretary of state during his first tenure, and a former top aide, Brian Hook, despite the previous administrations warned about the ongoing Iranian threats related to their actions during Trump’s tenure.
Pompeo and Brian Hook, who maintained an assertive stance against Iran during Trump’s first presidency, were involved in key decisions including the drone strike that eliminated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in early 2020, AP reported citing sources.
Trump himself faced continued threats due to Soleimani’s elimination. His advisers have emphasised the gravity of the situation during his time between presidencies. He sought additional protection, including military resources during his campaign’s final months, due to Iranian threats – protection typically limited to sitting presidents.
Why Security threats removed?
When questioned about withdrawing security details, Trump stated: “When you have protection, you can’t have it for the rest of your life.” He added, “I mean, there’s risks to everything.”
Iranian threats remain a serious security concern. In autumn 2024, Joe Biden’s administration warned Iran that assassinating former US officials would be considered an act of war. Post-November election, authorities charged an individual allegedly recruited by Iran for a plot against Trump.
Both Pompeo and Hook, along with Bolton, were granted security details by the Biden administration due to ongoing threats. According to The New York Times, the outgoing administration briefed Trump on the status of these threats.
Trump’s first administration took an aggressive approach on Iran which included withdrawing from the Iran Deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, various sanctions, labeling Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization, and the killing of Soleimani, among others, Newsweek reported.
The motivation for removing Pompeo and Hook’s security remains unclear, given their general support. Pompeo endorsed Trump in 2024 despite brief presidential aspirations and minimal criticism.
Trump recently stated on Fox News that Pompeo influenced his decision not to release Kennedy assassination files during his first term, puzzling those familiar with Pompeo. Trump has indicated he won’t employ former Pompeo staff, recently removing Hook from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
