- The suspect who left behind an assault rifle and other items, fled but was later captured
- The incident highlights ongoing challenges in protecting presidential candidates
- This attempt follows a previous shooting incident at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, was unharmed on Sunday after the Secret Service thwarted what the FBI described as a potential assassination attempt while he was on the golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Secret Service agents detected and confronted a gunman hiding in the bushes near the golf course’s boundary, only a few hundred yards from where Trump was golfing.
The suspect, who had left behind an AK-47-style assault rifle and other items, managed to flee in a vehicle but was later apprehended.
This latest incident comes just two months after Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where he sustained a minor injury to his right ear. Both events underscore the ongoing difficulties in safeguarding presidential candidates in a highly charged and polarized political environment with the election just over seven weeks away.
The motive and knowledge of the suspect regarding Trump’s golf game remain unclear. However, the incident is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of Trump’s security measures.
Publicly available profiles for a Ryan Routh, the suspected gunman, indicated he was a fervent supporter of Ukraine’s fight against Russia and had posted content related to recruiting soldiers for Ukraine. However, these profiles were removed shortly after the shooting, and law enforcement has not confirmed their authenticity.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that Secret Service agents observed the rifle barrel protruding from the bushes about 400 to 500 yards from Trump. The agents fired at least four shots at the gunman around 1:30 p.m. local time.
The gunman then abandoned his rifle and two backpacks before fleeing in a black Nissan. A witness managed to photograph the vehicle and its license plate, which led to the suspect’s arrest on I-95 by deputies in neighboring Martin County.
According to reports, both Trump and his friend Steve Witkoff, who was with him on the course, described hearing multiple gunshots. The Secret Service quickly provided protection to Trump, and Senator Lindsey Graham relayed that Trump expressed gratitude for the Secret Service’s response.
Due to Trump’s status as a private citizen rather than an incumbent president, the entire golf course was not secured, leading to some criticism of the limited security measures in place.
Trump reassured his supporters via email that he was safe and well, and the White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were informed of the incident and relieved that Trump was unharmed.
Biden instructed his team to ensure the Secret Service has the necessary resources for Trump’s protection.
Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, reported that Trump was in good spirits after the incident.
This shooting follows a previous attack at a Pennsylvania rally in July, marking the first such violence against a major party presidential candidate in over forty years and leading to the resignation of Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle.
The acting director of the Secret Service has since expressed regret over the security failure that led to the recent attempt.
