Trump survives second assassination attempt while golfing

Donald Trump has survived a second assassination attempt while golfing at his Florida mansion. On Sunday, the FBI labelled this incident an “attempted assassination.”

The former US President was playing golf at his Florida mansion when the US Secret Service spotted a gun muzzle through the shrubbery lining the course, roughly 400 yards away. The agents fired at the gunman who fled, leaving behind his equipment, including a GoPro camera.

Key points about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump:

1. The FBI reported that after being shot at by a Secret Service agent, the attacker dropped his rifle and fled in an SUV. He abandoned his firearm, two backpacks, a GoPro camera, and a scope used for aiming. He was arrested in a neighbouring county.

2. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder remarked that the man remained calm and emotionless upon arrest. “He never asked, ‘what is this about?’ Despite the presence of law enforcement with long rifles and blue lights, he never questioned it,” Snyder said.

3. On July 13, Trump was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing his ear. Eight days later, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democrats’ nominee.

4. Trump seemed unfazed by the attempt. He assured his supporters of his safety and vowed that “nothing will slow me down.” In an email, he wrote, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours spiral out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL. Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER.” He later returned to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach private club where he resides.

5. Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the assassination attempt. The White House expressed relief that Trump was safe. Harris stated that “violence has no place in America.”

6. Fox News host Sean Hannity shared his conversation with Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff. They recounted hearing a “pop pop, pop pop” on the fifth hole. Secret Service agents swiftly “pounced on” Trump to shield him.

7. The man in custody was identified as Ryan Routh. The FBI is investigating the attempted assassination. “The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach, Florida, and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” stated the bureau.

8. The suspect was arrested after the FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office issued a “be on the lookout” alert.

9. Snyder mentioned that his deputies “immediately flooded” northbound I-95, covering every exit from the Palm Beach County line to the St. Lucie County line.

10. “One of my road patrol units spotted the vehicle, matched the tag, and set up on it,” Snyder said. “We safely stopped the car and took the driver into custody.”

This attempt comes only nine weeks after a previous assassination attempt, where a shooter grazed Trump’s right ear at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.