Former U.S. President Donald Trump faced another attempted assassination at his golf course in Florida on 15 September (Singapore time), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said. Trump was unharmed in the incident, his campaign confirmed. Trump added that he was “safe and well” in an alert on his campaign page. The U.S. Secret Service reported that they opened fire at a gunman located near the property line of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. Singapore time.
Background
Trump was playing golf at the course and was within 300 to 500 yards (approximately 270 to 450 meters) of the gunman, according to reports from CNBC and CNN. After shots were fired, a witness saw someone flee and jump into a black Nissan vehicle. Trump was subsequently taken to his Palm Beach resort home, Mar-a-Lago. Law enforcement officials later found an AK-47 style rifle with a scope in the bushes, along with two backpacks containing ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera fastened to the fence. The suspect arrested was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58.
Suspect was calm when detained
The suspect was described as “relatively calm” when detained, according to Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder. “He was not displaying a lot of emotions. Never asked, ‘What is this about?'” Snyder added. Routh had displayed strong support for Ukraine in dozens of posts in 2022, CNN reported, stating that he was willing to fight and die for Ukraine, as reported by The New York Times. According to AP, Routh had a Twitter (now X) account where he expressed support for Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic politician who has since left the party and supports Trump, but also President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden and Harris reactions
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both commented on the incident. “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,” Biden wrote on X. He added that there “is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in” America. Harris echoed similar sentiments, stating, “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.”
Previous incidents and future implications
This incident marks the second apparent assassination attempt on Trump in two months. The FBI and U.S. Secret Service, along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating the incident. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during a news conference that his office was informed at 1:30 p.m. ET of shots fired by the Secret Service, when agents fired at a man who had a rifle in the bushes along the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club. The ongoing investigation will likely focus on understanding the motives behind these repeated attempts and ensuring enhanced security measures for the former president.
