Trump campaign advisor does not carry a gun while around ex-president as his safety comes under microscope

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

An earlier version of this story provided incorrect information about Trump's campaign advisor and weapons around Trump. A corrected version provides an accurate account of his comments.

Donald Trump’s senior advisor Chris LaCivita does not typically carry a gun while around the former president - as Trump’s security comes into question following a weekend assassination attempt.

LaCivita, a senior advisor to the campaign and Trump’s de facto campaign manager, made remarks on Tuesday at a 2nd Amendment event on the outskirts of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. LaCivita was being interviewed by a representative of the US Concealed Carry Association, which advocates for such laws across the country.

His interview came just three days after the former president became the first president since Ronald Reagan to be injured by a shooter, when a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally. Secret Service officials say the shooting was an assassination attempt.

“I don't, you know, I don't generally talk about carrying or not. But generally, I do not [carry a firearm] when I'm not with the boss,” LaCivita said.

“I mean, I kept my stuff locked up, except for the one next to my bed,” he said. “It’s obviously a duty for any law-abiding citizen, who wants to exercise the right [to bear arms] ... because you only hear about the irresponsible ones.”

The Trump campaign also said that LaCivita does not carry his weapon around the former president.

Questions about the president’s security have been in question since a gunman wounded the president. Scrutiny has fallen on the Secret Service and how the gunman was able to get within 500 feet of Trump at the outdoor rally and shoot, before being killed by snipers.

The building was reportedly occupied by police SWAT teams who have traded blame with the Secret Service, which is generally responsible for securing locations where current and former presidents go.

In the wake of the shooting, it was revealed the shooter used a rifle purchased legally by his father more than a decade ago. It’s unclear how he obtained the weapon from his father.

The former president made an appearance on Monday at the RNC, his first public appearance since being injured by the gunman. Trump had a bandage on his ear as he made a dramatic appearance at the convention to the applause of the crowd.

Trump’s surprise appearance came just hours after he formally clinched the Republican Party’s presidential nomination and announced Ohio Senator and loyalist JD Vance as his running mate.

The arena rang out with chants of “fight, fight, fight,” echoing Trump’s words to his supporters in the moments after he was shot during a campaign rally on Saturday.