US2 min(s) read
Published 12:45 01 May 2026 GMT
President Donald Trump has weighed in on his personal security after surviving a third assassination attempt, offering a surprising explanation for why he’s not keen on wearing extra protection.
His comments come just days after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, where a United States Secret Service agent was shot while intervening. Trump was quickly rushed out of the venue during the chaos.
Speaking during an Oval Office event on April 30, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he would consider “potentially wearing a bulletproof vest moving forward.”
His response was characteristically blunt: “I don't know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier.”
The remark drew laughs from those in the room, but Trump didn’t stop there. “If you want to gain 20 to 25 pounds, get a West vest,” he added, joking about the bulky appearance of protective gear.
Despite his reluctance to wear one himself, Trump acknowledged the effectiveness of body armor, saying: “Frankly, the vest did an amazing job because it took a bullet close up. And he didn't even want to go to the hospital. We sent him to the hospital.”
He also described the impact of being shot while wearing a vest as similar to “getting hit by Mike Tyson.”
Authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, who now faces multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination. According to the United States Department of Justice, he remains in custody ahead of a court hearing in Washington, D.C.
This latest incident adds to a string of threats against Trump. The first occurred during a 2024 campaign rally in Pennsylvania, when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, killing one attendee and grazing Trump. A second attempt followed at Trump’s Florida golf club later that year, where Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested.
Prosecutors later revealed that Routh had written a letter admitting: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”
He also allegedly offered $150,000 to anyone who could “complete the job.” Routh was sentenced to life in prison in February 2026.
Even so, Trump has remained defiant. After the latest incident, he told reporters he was “honored” to have been targeted multiple times, adding: “They don't go after the ones that don't do much.”
