Trump’s human sheilds

Do you feel the same about police officers, firefighters, soldiers and the coastguard? Do you feel the same about people who jump in rivers to save dogs or drowning people?

They have no idea who they are saving, the chances are the rescuees are just as much of a muppet as Trump or half our politicians, but they do it anyway, because that’s what they sign up for.

They don’t need psychiatric help. They just think a little differently to you, and see honour in something you don’t really value very much. Horses for courses, but I’m sure as hell glad that some people think that way, because I’m a selfish arse and wouldn’t piss on most people of they were on fire. So the world is a better place for having them in it, than for having the likes of you and me.

They tend not to wear them actually, because they are monumentally bulky and difficult to move in. Bodyguards need to be nimble and quick and have full range of movement. Presidential candidates need to look strong and uncowardly.

And bullet proof vests make sod all difference when the gun sights are trained at your skull
^THIS

They tend not to wear them actually, because they are monumentally bulky and difficult to move in. Bodyguards need to be nimble and quick and have full range of movement. Presidential candidates need to look strong and uncowardly.

And bullet proof vests make sod all difference when the gun sights are trained at your skull.

I, because I 'needed' a third book in a charity shop as a bundle, ended up buying Trevor Rees Jones book about being the only survivor if the crash that killed Dodi, Diana and the driver. It was very interesting and has a fair bit about what he had to do to look after Dodi (and later the princess and princes being there too). Dodi sounds like a pita to have looked after tbf.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0751537233/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Not much point in a body guard who pisses their pants at every loud noise then lies on the floor clutching their knees and crying, is there?

Why on earth do you feel so conflicted about it?

Firefighters risk their lives for others, police officers, soldiers and coastguards do, too. So you’ve met dozens of people in your life who do exactly the same thing.

And they’ll all do it for toxic twats just the same as they’ll do it for lovely kind people.

It's what they sign up for -

Yes, the Kings guards would literally do the same.

As a PP said, those Secret Service agents aren’t risking their lives to save Trump personally. They’re risking their lives to make democracy possible, and that involves stopping politicians being shot. I think that’s a noble thing to do, and we should be grateful to the people who are willing to do it.

OP I thought the same when I saw them protecting him with their heads out etc If that was my job I’d be in a head to toe bullet proof outfit! Not exposed as that seems suicidal.

I understand it’s the job they signed up and want to do…. However …. In that situation my life is worth no less than the VIP I’m protecting or they must really love the VIP they are protecting , like if it was my family I could do that. So I wouldn’t apply for that job as I think philosophically about it ! And I wouldn’t be going down for Donald Trump - so to summarise I’m doing the job only in a full bullet proof outfit or not at all as my life is worth no less than theirs!

I pretty much despise any public figure who would find it acceptable that another person's life is worth less than theirs and should take a bullet. What level of conceit is that?

How does it differ from anyone who has a difficult and dangerous job like the police or fire service?

Why are their lives worth less than the people they’re protecting or rescuing? Yes, they’re well trained and more equipped to deal with those situations, but so are secret service agents.

Quite.

It's not measuring one person's life against another's.

How would you distinguish this from other not particularly well-remunerated jobs which involve potentially life-threatening situations?

I was at Oxford when Chelsea Clinton was, and her regular security detail looked absolutely terrifying. Young, and clearly supposed to (kind of) blend in as students (only not really), the woman in particular looked as if she could invade a small country bare-handed. Even her French plaited hairdo looked efficiently lethal.

I do understand your way of thinking and somewhat share your view but then you (and I) could feel the same about the armed forces, no? They see themselves as protecting King and Country (or President and country) in presumably the same way that a bodyguard views their role.

People prepared to die for a public figure or an office need psychiatric help.
Literally, "They are worth more than me", my life is worth less than theirs".
Sad .

There was the time some one fired blanks at King Charles while he was in Australia

I can recommend the film “The Bodyguard” with Whitney Houston in 😊

This secret service agent literally took a bullet for Reagan

In the case of a President he/she represents The People. Its not the individual that's important, but their Office.

Same with Royalty. (The King is dead, long live the King). The individual is not important.

Those who choose to be Protection Officers do so out of conviction (hopefully) and patriotism.

Those that go private probably do it for the huge financial rewards. Not the same at all.

You don't get it - that's understandable, but lots DO want to participate.

Who goes through life thinking that a public figures life is of more value than their own?

Why would anybody want that job?
It's not even brave, it's odd.

I think this does make sense. Part of a bodyguard's job is to be aware of threats and hopefully anticipate stuff before it gets to the point it did on Saturday. Or to return fire. To me there is something quite different about the fact that they are also expected to sacrifice their life for their person. That weirds me out, even though I know it's a fact. I think it's to do with it being an explicit admission that we put one life above another.

There are also a million films and tv shows which shows bodyguards in action doing more or less exactly what happened to Trump. How you've never seen this before is very bizarre.

My brother is a personal protection officer for one of the senior royals, they do wear vests but they don't use fake arms 😊

It has been tested. Princess Anne's bodyguard took a bullet for her. He was wearing a bullet proof vest and survived.

I don't think it is fair to criticise how Trump reacted. It would have been shock and adrenaline not considered actions.