Trump said he almost didn't want to refute Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony that he lunged at a Secret Service agent on Jan. 6 because it made him look tough

Donald Trump said Wednesday that he almost didn't want to refute a secondhand account that he tried to lunge at a Secret Service agent because it made him look physically tough.

Trump was referring to former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony before the January 6 Committee in which she said she heard that the former president tried to grab the steering wheel of his SUV and lunged at a Secret Service agent.

In a speech before the Hispanic Leadership Conference, organized by America First Works, Trump referred to Hutchinson as a very sick individual and recounted the details of her testimony.

In order to get the Secret Service to take me to the Capitol, he said, he grabbed one around the neck. I almost didn't want to dispute it because a lot of people thought I was tough.

Trump said he would have been in serious trouble if he had grabbed him.

The January 6 Committee investigated the attack on the Capitol that tried to decertify the 2020 election. She told her testimony that Trump wanted to go to the Capitol on January 6 after the rally, but his aides and lawyers said no.

Tony Ornato recounted the lunging incident to her immediately after it happened.

She said that Trump said something to the effect of, "I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now." Bobby replied, "Sir, we have to go back to the West Wing." The head of Trump's protection was referred to by Hutchinson.

The president tried to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm and said, "Sir, we're not going to the Capitol, we're going to the West Wing." Mr. Trump gestured towards his clavicles when Ornato told him the story, Hutchinson said.

Secret Service agents haven't testified about that day under oath or before the committee despite a Trump ally saying they've offered to do so.

In an interview with Insider, a former Secret Service agent said that it would have been difficult for Trump to grab the steering wheel of an SUV and lunge at a Secret Service agent. The former agent said that Trump's large body would make it difficult.