Donald Trump Admits He Doesn't Want to Wear Bulletproof Vest Because It Will Make Him 'Look 20 Pounds Heavier' 

Following the latest alleged attempt on his life at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Donald Trump admitted that he doesn’t want to wear a bulletproof vest in public because it will make him look heavier than he is.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, April 30, the 79-year-old POTUS addressed the possibility of increasing his personal protection.

When asked if he had discussed wearing body armor with his advisers, Trump quipped, "I don't know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier.”

He further joked that some of his Secret Service agents who wear the vests are "physical specimens," while adding, "If you want to gain 20 to 25 pounds, you can get a vest.”

Beyond the jokes, Trump expressed a reluctance to wear a vest because he felt it would be "giving in to a bad element.”

Despite his personal reluctance, he praised the effectiveness of the gear, noting that a Secret Service agent who was shot during the recent WHCD was "totally protected" by his vest.

The president has reportedly worn protective gear before; reports as far back as 2016 indicated that Trump occasionally wore body armor during campaign rallies. However, it reportedly left him "sweaty and spent.”

The president is notoriously vain, possessing an obsessive fixation on appearance, media image and self-promotion.

His most recent weight has been reported as 224 pounds, a number experts say is not accurate but would categorize him as overweight, not obese.

He recently said he "probably should" take obesity drugs, but had not done so yet.

Social media lit up over his reasoning for not wanting to wear a bulletproof vest, with anti-Trump influencer Jo Jo From Jerz remarking, “He’s sitting there covered head to toe in cake makeup. hunched over the desk like a cooked shrimp while covering his decomposing greyscale hand, so clearly, he’s deeply concerned about the optics of his appearance.”

The president has been slathering makeup on his hands to cover bruising. Most recently, photographers captured significant discoloration on both hands during high-profile events, including a state visit with King Charles III.

“Would we even notice an extra 20 pounds? That would be like a Teletubby getting a zit,” quipped another.

Another observer noted that his physical weight paled in comparison to something much heavier. “His ego alone weighs 800 pounds. And he’s the most unfunny person that ever lived," they wrote.

“He wouldn’t be the first person to risk their life for vanity’s sake, but it’s hard to justify $40M of our money for a bulletproof ballroom when he clearly undervalues safety,” said another in response to his other obsession.