President Donald Trump has recently removed the security detail assigned to his former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, following a trend of retribution against former officials. Esper, along with other top aides, had retained security due to threats from Iran stemming from their actions while serving under the Trump administration. Notably, General Mark Milley, John Bolton, and Mike Pompeo have also had their security details withdrawn within the first weeks of Trump’s new term. In a surprising move, Esper’s portrait was taken down from the Pentagon, leaving former colleagues stunned. Trump’s dissatisfaction with Esper, who was dismissed shortly after the 2020 election, led to strained relations and derogatory remarks, with Trump even dubbing him “Yesper.” Esper’s account of Trump’s turbulent presidency in a book highlights the chaos and contentious directives he faced, such as being asked to use force against protesters, labeling Trump as “unprincipled.” Despite these developments, the White House has not responded to inquiries, and Esper, now a CNN contributor, has chosen not to comment on the situation.