Donald Trump insists he has no fear of would-be assassins despite three attempts on his life in the past two years, and he shrugged off calls to wear a bulletproof vest just in case. The president had reporters and Congress members in stitches with his reason for refusing the extra protection, telling them: 'I don't know if I can handle looking 20lbs heavier.' While his audience in the Oval Office laughed out loud, he added: 'Some of these guys are physical specimens.'
Latest Attempt at White House Correspondents' Dinner
Trump was asked about the latest attempt on his life at last week's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Federal prosecutors have released footage of the incident amid questions over whose bullet struck a Secret Service officer as Cole Tomas Allen ran through security with a long gun toward the hotel ballroom packed with journalists, administration officials, and others. They had previously claimed the agent took a bullet in his vest during the melee but had not confirmed it was Allen who shot the agent. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, however, said there is no evidence that the officer was hit by friendly fire.
The video appears to show Allen run through a magnetometer and point his weapon at the agent, who fired back five times, according to authorities. It is not clear from the video at what moment Allen's weapon fires. Allen was injured but was not shot during the Saturday night attack at the Washington Hilton, which disrupted one of the highest-profile annual events in the nation's capital.
Trump's Remarks on the Vest
Trump took Pirro's assertion a step further, telling reporters: 'I heard they said it was not friendly fire.' He added: '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 just in case, but he didn't want to go. The vest totally protected him. There's still a lot of power behind that shot, though. That's like getting hit by Mike Tyson. It's amazing.'
'I've been asked about that (wearing a vest). I guess it's something you consider. In one way you don't like to do it because you're giving in to a bad element, but I have been asked about it,' Trump said. Asked if he was 'nervous' about any future attempts on his life, he insisted: 'I don't think about it. If I did, I wouldn't be effective.'
Charges Against Allen
Allen was charged on Monday with the attempted assassination of the president, as well as two additional firearms counts, including discharging a weapon during a crime of violence. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone. Allen, 31, is from Torrance, California. He worked as a part-time tutor for a test preparation company and is an amateur video game developer.
