Sarah Huckabee Sanders to receive Secret Service protection, reports say

White House press secretary was recently asked to leave a restaurant as she works for Donald Trump

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will start receiving Secret Service protection as early as this week – days after she was kicked out of a restaurant for working with President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports.

It is unclear how long the protection from the federal law enforcement agency is expected to last. NBC News reported that security would be provided at her home on a temporary basis, citing a law enforcement official.

A Secret Service spokesperson told The Independent he could neither confirm or deny the reports.

Ms Huckabee Sanders' father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, appeared to confirm the reports this week, telling Fox News it was “not so much related to the [restaurant incident] as it is to other threats”.

“You got to remember, she has three small children, and there have been some nasty things," he added.

Ms Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky last week where the owner disapproved of Mr Trump's policies. The owner, Stephanie Wilkinson, told the Washington Post she asked Ms Huckabee Sanders to leave because she felt the press secretary worked for an “inhumane and unethical” administration.

Ms Huckabee Sanders said she “politely left” the restaurant, but condemned what she deemed “calls for harassment” of White House officials.

"We are allowed to disagree but we should be able to do so freely and without fear of harm,” she said at a press briefing on Monday, adding: “Healthy debate on ideas and political philosophy is important, but the calls for harassment and push for any Trump supporter to avoid the public is unacceptable.”

Several Trump administration officials have been targeted by protesters in recent days, after tensions spiked over their “zero tolerance” immigration policy.

Protesters gathered outside the apartment of policy adviser Stephen Miller carrying “wanted” signs on Monday, and chased Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen out of a restaurant by chanting “Shame!” last week.

Earlier this month, a Capitol Hill intern yelled "Mr President, f*** you!" at Mr Trump as he walked into a meeting with Republican leaders. She was later placed on a one-week suspension and had her ID badge taken away.