Former President Donald Trump was rushed to safety following an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf course. A suspect has been apprehended, and an AK-47-style firearm was recovered at the scene.
On Sunday, US Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of a rifle emerging from bushes at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. The agents fired at the suspect, who fled the scene, but was later arrested following a car chase. Authorities confirmed that Trump, who was around 300-500 yards away from the threat, was unharmed.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that the suspect attempted to escape in a black Nissan but was detained by officers in Martin County. “We alerted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, who located the vehicle and made the arrest,” Bradshaw said. A witness who saw the suspect running from the bushes provided key information that led to the identification and arrest.
At the scene, investigators found an AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera, suggesting premeditation. The Secret Service issued a statement confirming they were investigating a “protective incident” involving Trump, which occurred shortly before 2:00 PM EST (19:00 BST).
Trump reassured his supporters through an email, stating, “I am safe and well. Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, from Hawaii, has been named by US media. Reports indicate that Routh had previously posted on social media, encouraging foreign fighters to join the war in Ukraine.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the situation. Harris also condemned the violence in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Violence has no place in America.”
This incident follows an assassination attempt just two months ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was injured while addressing a rally. In that case, a 20-year-old gunman opened fire, killing an audience member before being shot by a Secret Service sniper.
The Butler incident led to scrutiny of the Secret Service’s security measures, resulting in the resignation of the agency’s director, Kimberly Cheatle.
In response to the latest attempt, security has been tightened around Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and the West Palm Beach golf course as investigations continue. The FBI and Secret Service are treating this case as an attempted assassination.
