At a Glance
- President Donald Trump listed Hunter Biden’s lost Secret Service detail as win #243 in a 365-item anniversary handout.
- The White House packet labels Hunter a “notorious crackhead and grifter” and cites the taxpayer savings.
- Trump ended protection for both Hunter and Ashley Biden in March 2025 after earlier complaining about agent counts.
- Why it matters: The move spotlights Trump’s use of personal attacks and selective protection changes for political families.
President Donald Trump stepped to the podium on Jan. 20, 2026, to celebrate a year back in office and handed reporters a glossy packet titled “365 wins.” Inside, item #243 boasts that the commander-in-chief “stripped notorious crackhead and grifter Hunter Biden of his taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail.”
The line drew immediate attention from the press corps. PBS NewsHour correspondent Elizabeth Landers told colleagues the wording jumped off the page during the briefing.
The Order That Started It
The reference points to a March 2025 Truth Social post in which Trump announced he was cutting protection for President Joe Biden’s two surviving children:
- Hunter Biden, 55
- Ashley Biden, 44
Trump wrote that Hunter traveled to South Africa with “as many as 18” agents and called the arrangement “ridiculous.” Hours later he declared, “Effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection.” Ashley, whom Trump claimed had “13 agents,” was also removed from the roster.
Labeling and Legal Backdrop
The phrase “notorious crackhead and grifter” appears verbatim in the White House handout. Trump has repeatedly referenced Hunter Biden’s 2024 convictions:
| Charge | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Illegal firearm possession while using narcotics | Guilty, Delaware jury, July 2024 |
| Tax evasion on $1.4 million | Plea offer tendered Sept. 2024 |
President Joe Biden pardoned his son in late 2024, wiping out both cases.
A Double Standard?
While Trump ended Biden-family protection early, he extended Secret Service coverage for his own children for six months after leaving office in 2021. Federal spending documents obtained by The Washington Post show protection for Trump’s four oldest children cost taxpayers roughly $1.7 million during that period. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush granted similar extensions to their families.
Other Listed Wins
The same handout claims additional victories:
- Released classified files on the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Released records on the disappearance of Amelia Earhart
- Signed an order “dismantling censorship” and “safeguarding Second Amendment rights”
The briefing lasted under 30 minutes, after which Trump left the stage to applause from staff. Reporters kept the “365 wins” packets, ensuring item #243-and its blunt language-will remain on the public record.
Key Takeaways
- The White House used an official press kit to level a personal insult at a protected private citizen.
- Trump’s Secret Service decisions highlight different treatment for political allies versus rivals.
- The episode underscores how the administration blends policy announcements with character attacks.
