Former President Donald Trump is reported safe following a shooting incident at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, while he was on the premises golfing on Sunday afternoon. A suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, is currently in custody.
The FBI has classified the shooting as an attempted assassination, marking the second attack on Trump within the past two months. In July, he sustained gunshot injuries at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During a press conference on Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed that the Secret Service alerted local law enforcement about multiple gunfire reports near the golf course around 1:30 PM ET. A Secret Service agent stationed near Trump noticed an AK-style rifle protruding from a fence and immediately engaged with the armed man, who subsequently fled in a black Nissan. Agents from the Secret Service opened fire in the pursuit.
Sheriff Bradshaw indicated that the suspect was positioned between 300 to 500 yards away from Trump, noting that with a rifle and scope, that distance is significant. The suspect reportedly left behind two backpacks and a GoPro camera.
A witness was able to provide authorities with details about the suspect’s vehicle, which led law enforcement to locate Routh on Interstate 95. According to Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder, Routh remained “relatively calm” during his arrest and did not seem to inquire about the situation.
In a campaign email, Trump reassured his supporters by stating, “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!”
Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, later communicated that he had spoken with Trump, expressing relief that the former president was unharmed and in good spirits after the incident.
Local officials noted that while the security presence was limited for a presidential nominee, they would have imposed tighter security if he had still been a sitting president. Sheriff Bradshaw commented on the elevated threat level, as Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office, Rafael Barros, confirmed that resources have been amplified in response to the incident, underscoring the current perilous climate.
The White House has reported that President Biden and Vice President Harris were informed of the security incident and expressed relief over Trump’s safety, with continuous updates promised to them. Attorney General Merrick Garland was also briefed on the matter and is overseeing the developments.
Additionally, the Secret Service updated Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who commended the agency for their prompt actions and called for full prosecution of the suspect, stating that political violence has no place in the country.