The United States President Donald Trump has been criticised by the California governor’s spokesperson and the Los Angeles mayor for terminating the Secret Service protection of former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The termination of Vice President Harris was disclosed on Friday by a senior White House official.
The decision to revoke Harris’ security detail comes just weeks before she goes on a promotional tour for her book, ‘107 Days’, which tells the story of her short campaign for the US presidency.
In a letter seen by US media, Trump directed the Secret Service on Thursday to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law.”
The move is expected to come into effect at the start of September.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson Bob Salladay criticised Trump’s decision to end protection for Harris.
“The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses,” he said.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, where Harris lives, also expressed outrage at the move.
“This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances, and more,” she told CNN.
“This puts the former vice president in danger, and I look forward to working with the governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles.”
Unlike ex-presidents, who all receive federal government protection for life, former vice presidents only have the privilege for an automatic six months after leaving office.
Harris, a former California attorney general who lost to Trump in November’s presidential election, announced that she would not run for governor of the state next year.
