Washington: In a harrowing incident at the Trump International Golf Course in Palm Beach, Florida, former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was confirmed to be “safe and unharmed” after Secret Service agents confronted a gunman near the property on Wednesday afternoon. The incident unfolded as Trump was playing golf at his resort home, Mar-a-Lago, located west of Palm Beach.
The assailant, who was armed with a rifle, was spotted by Secret Service agents concealed in bushes near the golf course property line. Agents were clearing holes ahead of Trump’s golf group when they noticed the barrel of a rifle sticking out from the bushes. The Secret Service acted swiftly, engaging the gunman and firing at least four rounds at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time. The suspect, who has since been identified by multiple news outlets as Ryan Wesley Routh, dropped his rifle and two backpacks before fleeing the scene in a black Nissan.
A witness was able to capture photos of the fleeing suspect’s car and license plate, which helped authorities in their swift response. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed during a press conference that a male suspect had been apprehended shortly after the incident. According to Bradshaw, the gunman was calm upon being detained and was found to be approximately 300 to 500 yards from where Trump was playing at the time of the attack.
The FBI has described the event as an “attempted assassination” of the former president. Law enforcement officials revealed that Routh was in possession of an AK-47 rifle with a scope, a GoPro camera, and backpacks containing ceramic tiles, indicating that he may have intended to document the incident.
Although authorities have yet to make a formal public statement regarding the suspect’s identity, major outlets including Fox News and CNN have reported that Routh was the individual arrested. The Guardian has not independently confirmed these reports.
Shortly after the incident, Trump addressed his supporters in an email, assuring them of his safety: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” He added a resolute message: “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” Trump has previously faced a separate assassination attempt earlier in July during a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
The White House also responded swiftly to the situation, with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris being briefed on the incident. Harris took to social media, denouncing the violence, stating, “Violence has no place in America.” Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz echoed similar sentiments, sharing his relief that Trump was unharmed and reiterating that violence contradicts the nation’s values.
Republican allies, including Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, expressed their support. Both confirmed that they had spoken to Trump after the attack and reassured the public that he remained in high spirits. Graham praised Trump as “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
As the investigation unfolds, law enforcement continues to gather information about the suspect’s motives and any potential accomplices. Authorities are also increasing security measures around the former president as the 2024 election campaign intensifies.
For now, the quick response of the Secret Service prevented what could have been a tragic event, ensuring the safety of Donald Trump amidst an alarming rise in political violence in the country.
