Trump safe after armed suspect incident at Florida golf club
Secret Service stops armed suspect near Trump at West Palm Beach golf club
Donald Trump encountered what the FBI describes as an attempted assassination at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. This incident happened just nine weeks after a previous attack on him.
Secret Service agents detected and shot at an armed individual hiding in the bushes near the edge of the golf course, a short distance from where Trump was playing. Trump confirmed his safety and well-being, and authorities have detained a suspect.
Secret Service agents positioned a few holes away from Trump noticed the barrel of an AK-style rifle protruding from the bushes approximately 400 yards from where Trump was playing. An agent fired at the suspect, who then abandoned his weapon, two backpacks, a scope, and a GoPro camera before fleeing in an SUV. The suspect was later apprehended in a nearby county. Officials reported that the suspect remained calm and showed little emotion when stopped and did not question why he was being detained.
🚨BREAKING NEWS JUST ANNOUNCED:
Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh is a Democrat. He was allegedly hiding in the bushes with an AK-47 with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro and was spotted by the Secret Service before he could take action on President Trump #shooting pic.twitter.com/3xkbB7EU19
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) September 15, 2024
In an email to his supporters, Trump stated, “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! Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
Trump had returned to Florida after a West Coast tour that included a rally in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah. His campaign had not announced any public events for him on Sunday. Since a July assassination attempt, Trump’s security has increased, with dump trucks forming barriers outside Trump Tower in New York and bulletproof glass used at outdoor rallies. President Biden has ensured that the Secret Service has all necessary resources to keep the former President safe.
The suspect, identified as Ryan Routh from Hawaii, is a longtime Democrat supporter. Records from the Federal Election Commission show that since 2019, Routh has made 19 donations totaling more than $140. The Palm Beach County sheriff mentioned that if Trump were still president, the entire golf course would have had full security, but since he is not, only certain areas are guarded by the Secret Service.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Al Jazeera reports that US President Joe Biden is relieved Donald Trump was unharmed in a shooting incident near his Florida golf course, with investigations ongoing by the FBI. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at Donald Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach?
There was an attempted assassination; an armed person was spotted and shot at by Secret Service agents.
Was Donald Trump harmed in the assassination attempt?
No, Donald Trump confirmed he is safe and in good health.
How did the Secret Service agents respond to the threat?
They fired at the gunman, who then fled in an SUV and was later arrested.
Has Donald Trump’s security been increased since the July attempt?
Yes, measures include dump trucks as barriers and bulletproof glass at rallies.
Who is the suspect and what are his political affiliations?
The suspect is Ryan Routh, a long-time Democrat supporter with multiple donations since 2019.
