Trump Safe After ‘Attempted Assassination’ at Florida Golf Club
In Short: On Trump Assassination AttemptÂ
- Gunshots were fired outside a Florida club while Trump was golfing.
- A suspect armed with an AK-47 was arrested hours later.
- Trump remains safe, and vows to “never surrender.”
Donald Trump, former U.S. President and Republican candidate for the 2024 election, narrowly escaped harm when gunshots were fired near his golf club in Florida on Sunday. The FBI has labeled the incident an “attempted assassination.”
The Secret Service responded swiftly, engaging a 58-year-old suspect who had been spotted near the club with an AK-47-style rifle. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, fled the scene but was later arrested in Martin County, Florida.
BREAKING: Secret Service agents shot suspect at Trump's golf course after they saw a rifle poking out of bushes.
The suspect was hiding in the bushes with an AK-47 with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro.
Here is a reported picture. pic.twitter.com/PTYuhF1880
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) September 15, 2024
Immediate Response
Trump was golfing at the time of the attack. Secret Service agents quickly escorted him to a safe location inside the club as gunfire erupted outside. A press briefing revealed that the suspect dropped his rifle and two backpacks before speeding away in a car. Photos taken by witnesses helped police trace and capture him within hours.
Luckily, no injuries were reported. The Secret Service fired at least four shots at the suspect, but it remains unclear whether he returned fire. Trump later assured his supporters via email that he was “well and safe” and vowed that he “will never surrender.”
Reactions Pour In
President Joe Biden condemned the violence, stating that there is “no place for political violence” in the U.S. He added that the Secret Service would continue to ensure Trump’s safety. Vice President Kamala Harris echoed these sentiments in a tweet, expressing relief over Trump’s safety and condemning the violence.
I am relieved that the former President is unharmed.
There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 16, 2024
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, said he spoke to Trump immediately after the incident and reassured the public that the former president was in “good spirits.”
I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024
A Growing Pattern? On Trump Assassination
This marks the second assassination attempt on Trump in two months. In July, he was grazed by a bullet during a rally in Pennsylvania. Both incidents have raised concerns over his security. Elon Musk, reacting to this latest attempt, questioned on X (formerly Twitter) why no one had made similar attempts on Vice President Harris. Musk’s comments sparked discussions about whether these attempts indicate a broader conspiracy.
And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔 https://t.co/ANQJj4hNgW
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2024
While investigators work to determine the motive behind this latest attack, questions about the goals and larger implications remain unanswered.
