The FBI is currently investigating what they describe as a possible assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course on Sunday, marking the second such incident in two months targeting Trump
Trump’s campaign confirmed that he is safe and unharmed. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed in a press briefing that his office was alerted around 1:30 p.m. ET when Secret Service agents fired at a man spotted with a rifle near the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club.
According to Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent noticed a rifle barrel with a scope protruding from the fence. The agent, part of a team tasked with staying a hole or two ahead of Trump during his game, immediately engaged with the suspect, who was approximately 300 to 500 yards away from Trump. Trump was golfing between holes five and six at the time.
The suspect fled the scene by car, and a witness later helped authorities identify the vehicle, a black Nissan, which was tracked heading north on I-95 in Martin County. Thanks to the witness, law enforcement detained the suspect.
David Aronberg, State Attorney for Palm Beach County, stated that the suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, remained silent during his arrest. Routh, a self-employed affordable housing builder from Hawaii, has previously shared political opinions online and expressed strong support for Ukraine. He had also traveled to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, attending rallies in Kyiv’s Independence Square.
The FBI’s investigation has extended internationally, as Routh’s suspected online activity includes platforms based outside the U.S. Officials recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks containing ceramic tile, and a GoPro camera from the scene.
The incident took place while Trump, who had no scheduled public events on Sunday, was playing a round of golf that was added to his itinerary last-minute. This follows an earlier assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, two months prior.
The Secret Service’s Miami field office confirmed that Trump is safe, and Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the U.S. Secret Service, is en route to Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also announced that the state would conduct its own investigation into the incident.
In response to the attempted attack, Trump’s campaign assured supporters that he was unharmed. Trump himself sent an email to his supporters stating, “There were gunshots in my vicinity… I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the situation, both expressing relief that Trump was unharmed. Biden reiterated that there is no place for political violence in the country, while Harris condemned the act and called for continued protection of the former president.
Senator JD Vance and Senator Lindsey Graham both shared that Trump remained in good spirits despite the incident, with Graham stating that Trump is more determined than ever to “save our country.”
(With inputs from agency)
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