U.S. President Donald Trump addressed his survival of multiple assassination attempts for the first time during a public event in the White House East Room on Monday. The audience chuckled politely as he joked about drawing unnecessary attention to himself amid an incident that took place just a few miles from his Palm Beach club.
On Sunday morning, 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina entered Mar-a-Lago’s grounds with a rifle and gas can, refusing to drop the weapons when ordered. He was shot by Secret Service agents who discovered him on the estate around 1:30 AM. The sheriff commented, “They only go after consequential presidents,” citing Lincoln and Kennedy as examples. Trump himself is one such consequential president.
The audience found his observation humorous, but they also felt a deep respect for those who had lost loved ones to illegal immigrants, whom the president referred to as angel families. He commended them as the bravest people he knew, adding that he felt drawn towards them in some inexplicable way.
Trump’s remarks came after a weekend dinner at the White House with governors. The event took place on Saturday night, and he had not been present at Mar-a-Lago earlier in the day when an intruder was discovered attempting to enter. Secret Service agents discovered Martin carrying a rifle and gas can near 1:30 AM.
The sheriff detailed that Martin initially dropped the gas can but raised the shotgun to a threatening position. In response, agents opened fire, neutralizing the threat by “neutralizing” the intruder without elaborating on more details. The Secret Service had guarded Trump’s home in West Palm Beach when Ryan Routh tried to assassinate him during a golf game.
Trump also referenced his previous assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, noting that he survived an encounter with Thomas Crooks who fired eight shots, injuring both himself and others. Trump was saved by a Secret Service counter sniper, which further cemented the role of these agencies in protecting him from threats.
The president’s comments encapsulated his unique perspective on being one of the most surveilled presidents due to his public presence—something that seemed almost comical given the number of attempted assaults he had endured. His remarks underscored both the precarious nature of his presidency and the protective measures in place, as well as a poignant nod toward those who had fallen victim to illegal immigration despite Trump’s stance on it.