Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, according to the FBI. Trump, who is running for president in 2024, was unharmed in the incident, and authorities say they have detained a suspect.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that one or more of its agents opened fire on an armed suspect near the boundary of Trump’s golf course. Law enforcement officials recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope and a GoPro camera at the scene.
The suspect fled the area after being confronted by the Secret Service, escaping in a black car. A witness provided a description of the vehicle, leading authorities to apprehend the individual later in the day.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, a man who had expressed support for Ukraine and was previously interviewed in Kyiv in 2022, where he had traveled to support Ukraine’s war effort.
At the time of the incident, Donald Trump had been playing golf at the West Palm Beach course, just a hole away from where the gunman was spotted hiding in bushes. Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, confirmed the former president was safe, while Trump himself later reassured his supporters on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!”
Sheriff Bradshaw said the suspect was positioned 300 to 500 yards (approximately 275 to 455 meters) away. Despite the distance, the presence of a scoped rifle made the situation highly dangerous.
Law enforcement officials could not confirm whether the suspect fired shots at Trump or Secret Service agents. Rafael Barros, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, stated, “We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents,” adding that shots were fired by Secret Service personnel.
The FBI has launched an investigation into the incident, which it described as an “attempted assassination” of the former president.
Increasing security concerns
This marks the second assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump in recent months. On July 13, the former president was wounded in the ear while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. That incident drew heavy criticism of the Secret Service, which was scrutinized for not detecting and stopping the gunman in Pennsylvania.
The latest event has raised additional concerns about Trump’s security, especially as he campaigns in the highly polarized 2024 presidential race. Several Secret Service agents involved in Trump’s Pennsylvania protection detail were placed on administrative leave following the July attack, and Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the agency, resigned amid the ensuing controversy.
Speaking about the Florida incident, Sheriff Bradshaw praised the quick action of the Secret Service agents. He detailed how agents spotted the rifle barrel sticking out of the fence and immediately engaged the suspect, forcing him to flee.
However, questions about the security lapses remain. U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, called for more transparency regarding the security situation, saying in a statement, “We must ask ourselves how an assassin was allowed to get this close to President Trump again. There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida.”
Reactions
President Joe Biden condemned the incident, stating, “There is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,” and pledged to ensure that the Secret Service has all necessary resources to protect Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running as the Democratic candidate for president in 2024, expressed relief that Trump was unharmed. “I am glad he is safe,” she posted on social media.
J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, also weighed in, stating that he had spoken to Trump before the news became public. “He was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance shared.
The Secret Service’s response to Sunday’s incident will likely face further scrutiny, especially given the intense criticism following the July assassination attempt. With the 2024 election season in full swing, the safety of political candidates, particularly Trump, remains a high priority for federal and local law enforcement agencies.
