Nigeria: Trump rejects bulletproof vest over weight concerns after latest assassination attempt
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he is reluctant to wear a bulletproof vest despite a third alleged assassination attempt in two years, saying he fears it would make him look “20 pounds heavier.”
“I’ve been asked about that,” Trump told reporters when questioned about protective measures after Saturday’s incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. “In one way, you don’t like to do it because you’re giving in to a bad element.”
A man was charged with attempting to assassinate the 79-year-old president at the Washington Hilton gala. Secret Service agents intercepted the suspect before he reached the ballroom. US media reports say wearing a protective vest is now under consideration by his security team.
It marks the third alleged attempt on Trump’s life since 2024. The most serious occurred at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was wounded in the ear and one audience member was killed.
Trump, who has often commented publicly on his appearance, said he wasn’t sure he could “handle looking 20 pounds heavier.” The former reality TV star has lost weight in his second term. His April 2025 medical exam listed him at 224 pounds, down from 243 pounds in 2019.
