Former US President Donald Trump was declared “safe and unharmed” after Secret Service agents engaged with a suspect armed with a high-powered rifle near the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The suspect, who fled the scene, was later apprehended.
The FBI and U.S. Secret Service are investigating what they are calling an “attempted assassination” of the former president. Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump’s campaign, confirmed that Trump was safe after shots were heard in his vicinity. The former president was golfing at the time, about 300-500 yards away from the suspect.
According to law enforcement, Trump’s Secret Service detail spotted the armed individual at the edge of the golf course and opened fire. It remains unclear if the suspect returned fire.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw commended the quick action of the Secret Service, stating, “They did exactly what they should have done, and their agent did a fantastic job.”
The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested after a witness reported seeing him flee in a black Nissan. Law enforcement later recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera from the scene.
Routh, who has had prior encounters with law enforcement, has not yet provided a motive for the incident. His social media accounts, now suspended, contained posts critical of Trump, although no direct threats were made.
Trump, who is expected to meet with the acting director of the Secret Service, expressed gratitude to the agents who protected him. He told supporters in a fundraising email, “I AM SAFE AND WELL,” and later posted a thank-you message on social media praising law enforcement’s response.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the incident and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed. Both condemned the violence, with Biden reiterating that there is “no place for political violence” in the U.S.
Republican leaders, including Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance and Sen. Lindsey Graham, also voiced their relief and support. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida announced the state would launch its own investigation into the incident.
This latest event follows a prior assassination attempt against Trump in July 2024, during a rally in Pennsylvania. In that attack, one attendee was killed, and Trump was slightly injured.
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