Trump Feels ‘Safe’ After Attempts Now That He Has Beefed Up Protection
President-elect Donald Trump expressed feeling more secure about moving into the White House, having survived two attempts on his life this year.
During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” Trump discussed his sense of safety with host Kristen Welker, noting that an enhanced security presence has helped him feel more confident after narrowly escaping two attacks.
“One of the things that made this campaign both unprecedented and extraordinary were the terrifying attempts on your life,” Welker remarked. “Two assassination attempts. Do you feel safe going into the White House for the next four years?”
Trump replied, “I have confidence in Secret Service. I know the people. I got to know a lot of them, and I have confidence. It was a bad moment. Something shouldn’t have happened. But I have a lot of confidence, and they really stepped it up.”
He elaborated further, saying, “They were restricted from giving the — look, I do a rally, and you were at many of them. And I’d have 50,000 people. Joe would have a rally and he’d have 30 people,” Trump continued. “And he had more Secret Service than me. My Secret Service was always asking for more manpower slash womanpower. They were asking for more and more and more, and they couldn’t get it.”
“I’m not blaming them really, because they were always fighting for more people,” he clarified. “And they wouldn’t get — now, boy, do we have it.”
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In his first televised interview since winning the election, Trump delved into various campaign commitments, such as plans for immigration, health care, and the Justice Department, during a conversation with NBC News.
Trump reaffirmed one of his key promises, pledging to issue pardons for individuals jailed in connection with the January 6 Capitol events on his very first day in office.
“First day. Yeah, I’m looking for these pardons,” Trump stated to NBC’s Kristen Welker during “Meet the Press.”
The president-elect criticized the reportedly harsh jail conditions faced by those arrested, noting that some pleaded guilty under extreme pressure.
“Look. I know the system. The system’s a very corrupt system. They say to a guy, ‘You’re going to go to jail for two years or for 30 years.’ And these guys are looking, their whole lives have been destroyed,” Trump explained. “Yeah, I’m going to look at everything. We’re going to look at individual cases.”
The Department of Justice reports that over 1,500 individuals have been arrested or charged in relation to January 6, with nearly 900 entering guilty pleas. Trump has made “freeing” these individuals a centerpiece of his campaign, reiterating the pledge during rallies.During the interview, Trump also criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray while discussing his nominee for the role, national security expert Kash Patel.
Trump emphasized that Patel “is going to do what he thinks is right” when managing an agency plagued by controversy and diminishing public trust. He added that Patel would not engage in politically motivated actions, unlike what he alleges the Biden-Harris Justice Department has done.
When asked by Welker, “Sir, are you going to fire the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, who you appointed?” Trump responded candidly.
“Well, I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home. I’m suing the country over it. He invaded Mar-a-Lago. I’m very unhappy with the things he’s done. And crime is at an all-time high. Migrants are pouring into the country that are from prisons and from mental institutions, as we’ve discussed. I can’t say I’m thrilled. I don’t want to say — I don’t want to — again, I don’t want to be Joe Biden and give you an answer and then do the exact opposite — ”
Welker interjected, “We’re going to talk about that —”
“So I’m not going to do that,” Trump continued. “What I’m going to say is, I certainly cannot be happy with him. You take a look at what’s happened. And then when I was shot in the ear, he said, ‘Oh, maybe it was shrapnel.’ Where’s the shrapnel coming from? Is it coming from — is it coming from heaven? I don’t think so. So we need somebody to straighten — you know, I have a lot of respect for the FBI, but the FBI’s respect has gone way down over the last number of years.”
When Welker asked, “Don’t you have to fire him to make room for Kash Patel if he is confirmed?” Trump gave a pointed response.
“Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious that if Kash gets in, he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? That somebody is the man that you’re talking about,” he stated.
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, a prominent moderate voice in the GOP, expressed confidence in Patel’s confirmation for the role.