President Donald Trump made light of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner during his first public event since the chaotic incident on Saturday night. Appearing before a large crowd at The Villages in Florida—a retirement community nearly as large as Washington, DC, with over 150,000 residents—he addressed new security concerns following an attempt on his life.
Trump's Remarks on Security
'You know, I shouldn't be here. There was just an attempt—I won't use the word—an attempt, they say, on my life,' Trump began. 'I should be indoors at a secure facility where I can quietly, beautifully, and safely play out my term, destroying everything that comes in our way—like bad countries that want to get nuclear weapons,' he said, in a clear reference to Iran. 'So they want me to be in a secure place. I say, "what's more secure than the Villages?"' he added to cheers.
He noted how 'seniors were waiting at the Villages' and remarked that he received '97 percent of the vote.' Supporters on hand told the Daily Mail they were not concerned about their safety. 'Nope, I'm not worried,' said 71-year-old Marilyn Conte. 'I trust God to keep me safe. There are Secret Service and police everywhere. God has protected the President so far and I believe he'll continue. So I wasn't worried to come here.'
Rick Conte, 73, chimed in, 'Only evil people want him dead and my God is stronger than evil. I'm not worried.' Gina Maria Richardson, 60, said she 'thought about the risk. But I think the odds aren't very high. And when am I going to have the opportunity to see a President speak in person?'
Rally Highlights
The seniors were treated to several of the President's greatest hits, including his attempt at a French accent impersonating French President Emmanuel Macron and the backstory of how he tried to get the 'fat drug' reduced in price. He also went after Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, making the bold, unverified claim that she married her brother, even incorporating a sex joke.
Trump brought along Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz, confessing to being bored when Oz tried to explain the ins and outs of government-funded health programs. Beyond Oz, a longtime TV doctor, Trump brought Dr. Phil, another TV doctor, briefly onstage to talk to the seniors.
