A second assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump was reported on Sunday following gunshots at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Notably, his campaign announced that Trump was safe following the gunfire. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that its probe revealed the gunfire appeared to be an attempted assassination on Trump.
The incident took place in the afternoon at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, raising concerns over the power of the US Secret Service’s protective measures. This is the second attempt on Trump’s life, happening months before the Presidential elections in the United States scheduled for November 2024. ‘Secret Service agents fired shots around 1:30 PM ET after they spotted a rifle barrel’, said West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a statement during a press conference
Reportedly, the assailant was 300-500 yards (275-475 meters) away from Trump when the incident occurred. According to the media reports, a witness provided information about the assailant, including a photograph of him running in a black Nissan. Law enforcement agencies used the information to catch the assailant, who was taken later into custody by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The assailant was identified as a 58-year-old Ryan Routh. He was seen aiming an AK-47 at Donald Trump when Secret Service agents spotted him. At the time of the incident, the assailant was heavily armed. Although Routh managed to escape but was later caught by security agencies on I-95. According to the media reports, Routh has been a long-time Democrat supporter and since 2019, he has made 19 donations totaling USD 140. He also supported former Representative for Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard, who was a Democrat previously but now supports Trump.
Trump issued a public statement assuring his supporters that he was safe. In his statement in a fundraising email, Trump said, ;There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” He further added, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
Senator of Ohio, JD Vance, and Senator of South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, both close allies of Donald Trump, confirmed that the former President was in good spirits despite the incident. Vance said in a statement, ‘I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public, and he was, amazingly, in good spirits’. Meanwhile, Graham appreciated Trump as ‘one of the strongest people I’ve ever known’.
The latest attempt on Trump’s life has raised questions about his security arrangements, signifying threats against the former President as he continues to stay active in the political landscape of the United States.
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