Off-duty SAS man who heroically rescued dozens of hostages in Kenya terror attack hired by Trump as one of his elite personal bodyguards

A former SAS soldier who heroically saved dozens of hostages in a terrorist attack has been hired by new US President Donald Trump as one of his elite personal bodyguards.

Christian Craighead was thanked by Trump during his first term after leading an operation to rescue British and American hotel guests held captive by the jihadist group al-Shabaab in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal he will be part of the security detail for Trump’s inauguration in Washington DC on January 20, after the president-elect told aides that Craighead’s ‘eagle-eyed’ would not have a gunman on the roof missed during the failed assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania in July.

Craighead, 48, is said to be working ‘in the shadows’ around Trump and has been charged with a key role in organizing reconnaissance at locations where he will appear in public.

A close family friend told the MoS: ‘Trump first contacted Chris after the terror attack and told him how much he admired his actions. Since then they have kept in regular contact. He is also good friends with Trump’s son, Don Trump Jr., and his former partner Kimberly Guilfoyle, having spent time with them in Miami.”

Wednesday marks six years since Al-Shabaab attacked the DusitD2 hotel complex.

Mr Craighead – not his real name – had been sent to Nairobi to help train Kenyan security forces in counter-terrorism. He was off duty and shopping when he was told hostages had been taken. He collected weapons from his truck and, according to fellow SAS veteran Chris Ryan, ‘organized the whole operation’.

Mr Craighead led an operation to rescue British and American hotel guests held captive by the jihadist group al-Shabaab in the Kenyan capital Nairobi (pictured right)

Wednesday marks six years since Al-Shabaab attacked the DusitD2 hotel complex

While 22 people were killed in the gunfight, 27 emerged alive – some were carried to safety by Craighead after he killed two terrorists.

Images of his heroism went viral on the news and social media, and he received Britain’s second highest military award: the Conspicuous Gallantry Award.

But his actions caused friction within the SAS, which prides itself on discretion. Mr Craighead left the regiment soon afterwards, claiming he had been shunned by comrades. His planned book about the attack, entitled One Man In, was blocked by the Ministry of Defense.

The friendship between Craighead and Trump began when the then-president invited him to the White House to express his gratitude for his actions in Nairobi.

In May, he introduced Trump to thousands of supporters at a rally in New Jersey. Then, after the July assassination attempt, Trump, according to a family friend, “told his inner circle that Chris’s ‘eagle eyes’ would not have missed the shooter.”

They added, “In October last year, Trump personally requested a meeting and asked Chris to become one of his bodyguards.

Christian Craighead with Donald Trump in 2019. The former SAS soldier was thanked by Mr Trump during his first term after leading an operation to rescue British and American hotel guests held hostage in Nairobi, Kenya

Mr Craighead last month accepted a role as one of Mr Trump’s bodyguards, and will attend his inauguration alongside the newly elected president

‘In December, Chris accepted the role after agreeing financial terms and arranging his stay in the US. Since then, he has been working in the shadows around Trump, organizing explorations around his work agenda, and will be standing next to him when he is sworn in on January 20.”

Last year the MoS reported how Craighead’s girlfriend Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, 37, a scion of the chocolate family dynasty, was bombarded with revenge porn messages from the elite soldier’s ex, British army dentist Major Jennifer Wilson, 42.

Wilson later pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to harassment and malicious communications.

She was ordered to do 100 hours of community service and given a 10-year restraining order banning her from contacting her victims.

Mr Craighead could not be reached for comment last night.