The latest attempt on Trump’s life happened just two months after he was shot at during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, leaving him with a small injury to his right ear.
Two months after former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump was shot at during a rally, the FBI stopped another assassination attempt on Sunday while he was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Secret Service said the incident happened just before 2 p.m. Agents saw someone with a gun near the golf club and quickly fired at them. The suspect escaped in an SUV but was later caught by the police in a nearby county. An AK-47-style rifle and other items were found just a few yards from where Trump was playing.
CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, said the suspect was 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh from Hawaii. The FBI has not commented yet.
“Violence has no place in America”
In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been informed about the incident and were glad that Trump was safe. Biden also said he had made sure the Secret Service has all the resources needed to protect Trump.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vice President Harris said, “Violence has no place in America.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, also said, “Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation.”
Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, said he talked to Trump after the incident and that Trump was in good spirits.
On social media, Donald Trump Jr. spoke about the ongoing threats against his father, writing, “Shots fired again at Trump Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.” Eric Trump also voiced his worries, saying, “My father is running out of lives. How many more rifles will get close to him?”
Donald Trump Jr. added that an AK-47 was found at the scene, based on local police reports. The Trump campaign confirmed that the former president was safe, and that the suspect had been arrested.
Senator Lindsey Graham, after talking to Trump, called him “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known,” and said that Trump was in good spirits and even more determined to “save our country.”
The Trump campaign thanked the Secret Service for their quick actions, saying they kept Trump safe. Campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles told staff in an email, “For the second time in two months, someone has tried to take President Trump’s life.”
After visiting Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, “No leader in American history has faced more attacks and stayed so strong. He is unstoppable.”
Political leaders reacted to the incident, happy that Trump was safe and condemning political violence. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the Secret Service for acting quickly and said, “There’s no place for political violence in this country,” adding that the suspect should face full legal consequences.
The FBI is investigating the case as an “apparent attempted assassination” of the Republican candidate. They are looking into the suspect’s motive and whether he acted alone. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the gunman, armed with an AK-style rifle and scope, was hiding in bushes about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump while he played golf.
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