President Trump ends federal security detail Dr. Anthony Fauciinfectious disease expert suggest him Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday.

Fauci is the latest in a series of former Trump aides turned crises who have had their federal protections revoked despite ongoing threats to their lives.

Speaking to reporters in North Carolina on Friday, Mr. Trump said he would not take responsibility if former administration officials felt harmed. Fauci's federal security detail ended Thursday and he has since hired private security, a person familiar with the matter told AP on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.

Asked about Fauci and former national security adviser John Bolton, Trump said: "They both make a lot of money. They can also hire their own security."

Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases before retiring in 2022.
Fauci faced periodic threats to his life and received federal protection for many years.

exist Interview with CBS News last yearFauci said he had never received a "credible death threat" until the pandemic and his agency's response to it.

"No, unreliable death threats, a person is arrested and they clearly intend to kill you," Fauci told CBS News. "It happened at least twice. We acted like, we have a virus that is the common enemy, We are fighting each other."

Republican Mr. Trump, revoked earlier this week Protection details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top aide Brian Hook, as well as Bolton. All have faced threats since their difficult stance on the Islamic Republic during Trump's first administration and have come to terms with him in the years after he leaves office in 2021.

Fauci has been a frequent voice on Mr Trump's side during the outbreak but has been critical of Mr Trump after the president tried to undermine public health guidance.

Bolton, Hook and Pompeo had their security details repeatedly renewed by the Biden administration due to credible and ongoing threats from Iran. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, also repeatedly renewed Fauci because of domestic threats.

"Because you work for the government, you don't have access to a security detail for the rest of your life," Trump said.

Hours before leaving office on January 20, President Joe Biden Pre-emptive strike Fauci and others he believes may be targets of the Trump administration.