Donald Trump Says Six Ambulances Accompany Him and Describes Sick Rally Attendees as 'Collateral Damage'

US President Donald Trump has claimed that six ambulances accompany him during public appearances but would not be made available to supporters suffering medical emergencies, describing sick rally attendees as 'collateral damage'.

The 80-year-old made the remarks during a campaign event in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, 14 October, while discussing the doctors assigned to his presidential medical team. He suggested that his physicians would remain beside him even if someone in the audience suffered a heart attack.

The president's comments, which prompted laughter from sections of the crowd, were delivered as part of an unscripted discussion about his health and medical arrangements.

Trump Claims Doctors Would Ignore Dying Supporters

Addressing supporters at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport in Bullhead City, Arizona, Trump boasted about the number of medical professionals travelling with him. 'I travel with more doctors than any human being,' he told the audience.

He also suggested that those doctors would not interrupt their presidential duties to assist someone who became seriously ill during one of his appearances. 'If people get sick in the audience, they don't -- they leave them alone. You know what they call them? Collateral damage,' Trump continued.

He singled out someone in the audience whom he described as a friend, making a disparaging remark about the man's appearance. He said the individual seemed as though he was going to have a heart attack, imagining what would happen if he suddenly collapsed.

'If that person right over there, a friend of mine -- he looks like sh*t, actually. He looks -- he looks like he's ready to have a heart attack. If he actually had a heart attack, you know what my doctors would do that follow the president, all presidents? They would leave him alone,' he said, adding that if he asked his doctors to help, they would answer: 'No, sir, we can't leave your side. Sir, he's collateral damage.'

Trump claimed that six ambulances travelled with his entourage but would not be used for other people. 'They got, like, six ambulances and they won't use one for anybody else,' he told the crowd. However, the president provided no supporting evidence for the number of ambulances or his description of their availability.

His statements did not establish that emergency personnel had ever refused assistance to a rallygoer. The identity of the individual Trump pointed towards was also unclear, and the incident he described was hypothetical rather than an actual medical emergency.

Medical Expert Challenges President's Claims

CNN medical analyst Dr Jonathan Reiner, who previously served as a cardiologist to former Vice President Dick Cheney, disputed Trump's account of how presidential doctors would behave, according to reporting published after the rally.

In a social media post, Reiner said the description misrepresented the professionalism of the White House Medical Unit, whose personnel are responsible for protecting the president's health. 'This is completely untrue, and an actual insult to the fabulous doctors, nurses, and PAs of the White House Medical Unit,' Reiner stated in his post on X.

'Over the years I've been honored to get to know many members of the WHMU and I know that they would never call a spectator "collateral damage". They would save their life,' Reiner added, rejecting the suggestion that they would disregard someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

Video of Trump's remarks circulated on social media and attracted criticism from users who objected to his description of potentially ill supporters. Others interpreted it as an attempt at humour, particularly given the laughter heard during the speech.

The appearance was part of Trump's campaign ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. He was supporting Republican candidate Andy Biggs in Arizona's gubernatorial contest against Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.