5 things to know about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump at one of his golf courses
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Former President Donald Trump is safe according to what the FBI says “looks like attempted murder” while he was golfing at a rally in Pennsylvania two months after another attempt on his life.
According to local authorities, US Secret Service agents protecting Trump shot a man with an AK-style rifle with a scope pointed at him while Trump was playing at one of his golf courses in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Here are five things you need to know about what happened to the Republican presidential candidate on Sunday.
Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the gun and was arrested was Ryan Wesley Routh. Officials identified the suspect to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
The suspect dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV and was later taken into custody in a neighboring county, authorities said. A motive is unclear. Local authorities said the shooter had two backpacks hanging from a fence and a GoPro camera.
According to online records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Routh was convicted in 2002 of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
The data does not provide details about the case. But a News & Dossier A 2002 story says a man by the same name was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police. The story says he was pulled over during a traffic stop, put his hand on a gun and barricaded himself in a roofing business. Routh was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon of mass destruction, “referring to a fully automatic machine gun,” according to the News & Dossier.
According to local authorities, the gunman was about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump and hid in the brush while the former president played a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that when people get into the brush around the course, “they’re pretty much out of sight.” Bradshaw said the entire course would be filled with law enforcement if Trump were the sitting president, but because he’s not, “security is limited to the areas the Secret Service deems possible.”
Trump’s protective detail is higher than that of some of his colleagues because of his high profile and his campaign to regain the White House. His security was beefed up just days before the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.
In an email to his supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my area, but before the rumors get out of hand, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
His running mate, JD Vanceand U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they spoke with Trump after the incident, and both said he was in “good spirits.” Trump also spoke with several Fox News hosts.
Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president, said on the radio that he spoke with Trump and his golfing partner Steve Witkoff afterward. They told Hannity that they were on the fifth hole when they heard a “pop pop, pop pop.” Within seconds, Witkoff said, Secret Service agents were “jumping on” Trump and “protecting” him to protect him.
Moments later, Witkoff said, a “fast cart” with steel reinforcement and other protection was able to whisk Trump away.
Hannity said Trump’s reaction after this happened — and when it was clear that everyone, including Witkoff, was safe — was to say he was sad he couldn’t finish the hole because he “tied the game and putted for birdie.”
Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the presidential election, posted on X that she was aware of the reports of gunshots fired.
“I’m glad he’s safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The White House said President Joe Biden and Harris would be kept informed of the investigation. The White House added that it was “relieved” to know Trump is safe.
Trump has not announced any changes to his schedule and will speak live on X from his Mar-a-Lago resort Monday night to launch his sons’ crypto platform.
Meanwhile, leaders of a bipartisan congressional task force investigating the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump have indicated they have requested a Secret Service briefing.
“We are grateful that the former president was not harmed, but we remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all its forms,” Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement. They said the task force will share updates.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat who serves on the task force, said he will “seek answers about what happened today and then.”