Former National Security Adviser John Bolton had Secret Service protection stripped by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, amidst reports of an Iranian murder plot targeting Bolton following his tenure in the White House. A spokesperson for Bolton confirmed that the Secret Service notified him on Monday night that his security detail would be terminated at noon the following day. In response, Bolton expressed disappointment but not surprise at Trump’s decision to revoke the protection previously provided.
Both the White House and the Secret Service refrained from commenting on the matter. Bolton, who had been openly critical of Trump following his exit from the administration, labeled the President as “unfit to be president” in a revised edition of his memoir released in 2024. In the scathing account, Bolton portrayed Trump as self-serving, willing to punish personal foes while accommodating adversaries like Russia and China.
The origins of the Iranian threat against Bolton date back to 2022 when a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps was charged with orchestrating a plot to assassinate him. Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, allegedly sought retribution for the death of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. Despite the charges, Poursafi, believed to be residing in Tehran, has eluded capture, as Iran lacks an extradition agreement with the U.S.
Following the revelation of the assassination plot, former President Joe Biden extended Secret Service protection to Bolton in 2021, acknowledging the ongoing threat. Bolton acknowledged Biden’s decision despite his prior critiques of the Democratic administration’s national security strategy. The persistent danger posed by the Iranian plot was underscored by a recent arrest related to an attempted assassination plot targeting President Trump.
As the situation continues to unfold, the intricate web of political animosities and security threats surrounding John Bolton serves as a stark reminder of the complex and often precarious nature of international relations. The abrupt withdrawal of Secret Service protection adds a new layer of intrigue to the ongoing saga, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision and the potential implications for Bolton’s safety and well-being.
In the face of these developments, the specter of geopolitical tensions and personal vendettas looms large, casting a shadow over the already tumultuous landscape of American politics. The interplay of power, ambition, and danger underscores the high stakes involved in navigating the corridors of influence and authority at the highest levels of government.
As John Bolton finds himself at the center of a geopolitical storm, the world watches with bated breath to see how this latest chapter in his tumultuous journey will unfold. Only time will tell what lies ahead for the former national security adviser and the larger political landscape in which he is entangled.
