Who is Trump’s new bodyguard Christian Craighead? SAS commando who rescued hostages in Kenya terror attack
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AN SAS hero commando has turned heads with his career shift as he became Donald Trump’s personal bodyguard. ‘Christian Craighead’, the secretive former fighter, exemplified his bravery and smarts when helped rescue hostages during a terrifying Kenya terror attack.
![[A soldier running through a doorway with a rifle.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/newspress-collage-fhhtvlz9j-1736774883157.jpg?1736756923&strip=all&w=960)
The 48-year-old has received military awards for his service but little is known about Craighead - which is not his real name. He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his bravery in a shock 2019 terror attack in Nairobi’s DusitD2 complex. A terrifying 19-hour siege of the luxury hotel, which started with a suicide bomb detonating, sent shock waves around the world.
![[Hostages rescued from a terror attack in Kenya ascending a staircase.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/newspress-collage-74txvl5i1-1736774638225.jpg?1736756832&strip=all&w=960)
Craighead had been in Nairobi at the time for work to help train Kenya’s security forces in counter-terrorism. The SAS hero’s skills unexpectedly came into action when he stepped in to gun down the terrorists, while off-duty. Craighead heroically sprung into action and shot two of the murderers, potentially saving dozens of lives.
![[Trump with another man.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/newspress-collage-kijetqi1n-1736774530262.jpg?1736756579&strip=all&w=960)
The SAS commando was praised for his quick actions and awarded the UK’s second-highest military honor – the Conspicuous Gallantry Award. A coordinated terror attack started on January 15, 2019, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at around 2:30pm local time.
![[Donald Trump shaking hands with a man, pointing at him.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/newspress-collage-djkfnw0o0-1736775053289.jpg?1736757078&strip=all&w=960)
The luxury hotel complex, fitted with restaurants, came under siege and lasted into the next day as authorities desperately tried to save hostages. This horror situation killed 21 civilians - including a British man, one Kenyan soldier, and five militants.
