The FBI is investigating an apparent second attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a suspect, armed with a rifle, was spotted by Secret Service agents.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, concealed himself in bushes outside the fence line of the golf course, where he allegedly aimed an AR-style rifle with a scope toward the former president. Trump was approximately 400 yards away at the time.
According to law enforcement, the Secret Service, which was scouting the area in advance of Trump’s movements, quickly noticed the armed individual in the bushes. Acting swiftly, Secret Service agents opened fire on the suspect, who then fled the scene in a black Nissan vehicle. The suspect was later apprehended and taken into custody after a dramatic chase on the highway.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office received an emergency call about shots fired near Trump’s golf course at around 1:30 p.m. ET, according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Sheriff Bradshaw informed the press that the Secret Service had spotted the suspect with the rifle just before the agents opened fire. It remains unclear whether the suspect fired any shots in return.
Witnesses at the golf course reported seeing the suspect fleeing from the bushes. An alert civilian managed to capture photos of the vehicle and its license plate, which helped law enforcement track down the suspect. This information was immediately broadcast to other agencies in the region.
Sheriff Bradshaw confirmed that an AR-style rifle equipped with a scope, along with a GoPro camera, was recovered from the bushes where the suspect had been hiding. The presence of the camera has raised questions about the suspect’s intentions and whether he was recording the assassination attempt.
Routh was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office after law enforcement spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s car on Interstate 95. The road control unit, led by Sheriff William Snyder, identified the suspect’s black Nissan heading northbound on the highway. The vehicle’s license plate confirmed that it was the same car from the earlier alert.
Sheriff Snyder described Routh’s arrest, noting that the suspect did not display significant emotion or resistance. “The suspect’s demeanor, I would describe as having a relatively calm, flat affect; he was not displaying a lot of emotions, never asked, ‘What is this about?'” Snyder said.
The suspect was unarmed at the time of his arrest, and the vehicle was later turned over to the FBI, which has taken the lead in the investigation. The investigation is expected to uncover more details about the motive behind the attempted attack.
Former President Trump responded to the incident in a fundraising email to his supporters, expressing his determination to continue his political campaign despite the attack. “My resolve is stronger than ever after another attempt on my life,” Trump wrote.
The former president used the moment to rally his supporters, declaring, “I will never slow down. I will never give up. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!” He further thanked his supporters for standing by him, saying, “I thank God every day for having supporters like you on my side. On November 5th, WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In an earlier email, Trump reassured his supporters that he was unharmed in the incident. “I am safe and well,” he said. “Nobody was hurt. Thank God.”
Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been a regular venue for both recreational activities and political events. The high level of security maintained by the Secret Service has been credited with preventing more serious outcomes from incidents like this one.
The Secret Service plays a critical role in protecting former U.S. presidents, including Trump, who has maintained a high public profile since leaving office. Despite this, the former president has faced numerous security threats, including this second assassination attempt in recent memory.