The former SAS soldier who gained plaudits after heroically rescuing dozens of hostages in a terrorist attack at the DusitD2 Hotel in 2019 has been selected to serve in US President-elect Donald Trump’s elite security team.
Christian Craighead, 48, is now set to serve a crucial role in Trump’s security team ahead of his upcoming inauguration in Washington, D.C, on January 20, 2025.
Trump, who is set to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, is reportedly keen on having Craighead as part of his security team because he believes the former SAS soldier’s ‘eagle eyes’ could be the difference between life and death.
The US President-elect is particularly interested in heightening his security after an assassination attempt on him in September 2024 at the height of political tensions in the US.
A photo collage showing Christian Craighead during the Dusit D2 attack.
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Sandbox
One suspect, a 58-year-old identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, has since been arrested in connection to the attempt on Trump’s life.
According to a close family friend, Trump personally reached out to Craighead in the wake of the DusitD2 hotel attack, praising him for his bravery and tact. The pair have been in contact ever since, with Trump inviting him to the White House to thank him for his actions.
At the time of his attack, Craighead (not his real name), was posted in Nairobi to train Kenya’s security team on how to counter-terrorism.
He was, however, off duty when the attack on DusitD2 took place. According to fellow SAS veteran Chris Ryan, Craighead masterminded the whole operation which saw more than 20 hostages rescued.
Since his heroic act, Craighead gained global attention, with his native UK awarding him with the country’s second-highest military honour.
Despite his heroics, Craighead’s relationship with SAS broke down, since the UK Army Special Service prides itself in discretion, yet one of their own gained attention, with his videos going viral.
In 2024, he attempted to publish a book detailing the DusitD2 hotel attack, but his move was blocked by a British High Court.
While issuing the orders, the British Court referred to rules prohibiting security agents from publishing sensitive information that can compromise national security.
British SAS soldier Chris Craighead (right) and other police officers holding a rescue operation at Dusit D2 in January 2019.
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Chris Craighead