Donald Trump survives another apparent assassination attempt
Donald Trump is unharmed after a second attempt on his life while playing golf in Florida; a Secret Service agent opened fire on a gunman when they spotted a 58-year-old man in bushes pointing an AK-style rifle through a fence less than 400m from the former president.
Donald Trump was the target of a second apparent assassination attempt Sunday when Secret Service agents opened fire on a gunman at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the former president was golfing just a few holes away. Trump was unhurt, and the gunman fled but was arrested shortly later.
At least one agent, who was one or two holes ahead of Trump on the course, fired after spotting the man pointing a rifle through a fence, law-enforcement officials said. A witness saw the man dart out of bushes and take off in a black Nissan, which helped sheriff’s deputies track and stop him while he was headed down I-95.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that Trump, who was between the fifth and sixth holes on the course, was one or two holes behind at least one secret service agent who was in advance of the golf party.
The ex-president was about 400 yards away (365m) from the gunman, Bradshaw added, when the secret service engaged the suspect after spotting the rifle.
The man, whom law-enforcement officials identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was detained and is facing criminal charges. Investigators said they didn’t know if the gunman himself fired a shot during the encounter.
Authorities found an AK-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks and a GoPro portable camera - suggesting the gunman wanted to film himself - in the bushes where he was hiding, Bradshaw said.
“With a rifle and a scope like that, that’s not a long distance,” he said.
The FBI said it was investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.
“I AM SAFE AND WELL!” Trump said in a fundraising campaign email sent shortly after the incident. He added “Nothing will slow me down. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!”
The West Palm Beach shooting comes two months after a 20-year-old gunman tried to kill Trump during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a rooftop about 400 feet away from where Trump spoke, killing a spectator, injuring two others and wounding the former president in the ear. Secret Service agents shot back, killing Crooks.
The agency has been under intense scrutiny since then, as multiple investigations examine how it failed to prevent that assassination attempt.
Law-enforcement officials have warned that threats of politically motivated violence, already elevated, have spiked online since the shooting in Butler, Pa. The Secret Service has long viewed golf as a vulnerability, with courses offering a precarious combination of open ground and the predictability of a protectee moving from hole to hole.
That risk has been especially pronounced with Trump, current and former agents said, because of the frequency of his trips and his habit of golfing at courses he owns.
Agents walk ahead of and behind the former president when he is golfing to scope out threats. On Sunday, Trump was walking between holes five and six when an agent ahead of him spotted a rifle barrel sticking out of a fence near the golf club’s property line. Secret Service personnel fired at least four shots, said Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the agency’s Miami field office.
The Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach is about 5 miles from the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence. His motorcade departed the golf club and went back to Mar a Lago just over two hours after the incident.
A White House official said President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed about the shooting.
“I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America,” Harris said in a post on X.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), said on X that he spoke with Trump before the news became public and that Trump was “amazingly, in good spirits.” “I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” Vance added.
Harris and Biden respond
US Vice-President Kamala Harris condemned political violence on Sunday after shots were fired near Mr Trump, her Republican rival in November’s election.
“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe,” the Democrat said. “Violence has no place in America.”
I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024
Joe Biden posted on X: “I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe.
“I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.’’
I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 16, 2024
A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their…
The US Secret Service, tasked with protecting presidents, former presidents and other dignitaries, have faced criticism after the Pennsylvania incident.
The Secret Service has long viewed golf as a vulnerability, with courses offering a precarious combination of open ground and the predictability of a protectee proceeding from hole to hole. But that risk has been pronounced with Mr Trump, current and former agents said, because of the frequency of his trips and his habit of golfing at courses he owns.
Vivian Salama, Jacob Gershman and C. Ryan Barber contributed to this article.
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