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Trump Subject of Assassination Attempt 09/16 06:18
Donald Trump was the target of what the FBI said "appears to be an attempted
assassination" at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, just
nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt
on his life. The former president said he was safe and well, and authorities
held a man in custody.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Donald Trump was the target of what the FBI
said "appears to be an attempted assassination" at his golf club in West Palm
Beach, Florida, on Sunday, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential
nominee survived another attempt on his life. The former president said he was
safe and well, and authorities held a man in custody.
U.S. Secret Service agents stationed a few holes up from where Trump was
playing noticed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle sticking through the shrubbery
that lines the course, roughly 400 yards away.
An agent fired and the gunman dropped the rifle and fled in an SUV, leaving
the firearm behind along with two backpacks, a scope used for aiming and a
GoPro camera, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. The man was later
stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county.
It was the latest jarring moment in a campaign year marked by unprecedented
upheaval. On July 13, Trump was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,
and a bullet grazed his ear. Eight days later, Democratic President Joe Biden
withdrew from the race, giving way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become
the party's nominee.
And it spawned new questions about Secret Service protective operations
after the agency's admitted failures in preventing the assassination attempt
this summer.
The man who was detained had a calm, flat demeanor and showed little emotion
when he was stopped, according Martin County Sheriff William Snyder.
"He never asked, 'What is this about?' Obviously, law enforcement with long
rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it," Snyder said.
In an email to supporters, Trump said: "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 wrote: "Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER
SURRENDER!"
He returned to Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach where he lives,
according to a person familiar with Trump's movements who was not authorized to
discuss them publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was not immediately clear how the development would affect his schedule
or campaign dynamics. Trump was set to speak from Florida about cryptocurrency
live on Monday night on the social media site X and had stops planned Tuesday
and Wednesday in Michigan and on New York's Long Island.
An email to Trump campaign staffers obtained by AP said, "We ask that you
remain vigilant in your daily comings and goings."
"As we enter the last 50 days of President Trump's campaign, we must
remember that we will only be able save America from those who seek to destroy
it by working together as one team."
Biden and Harris were briefed on the matter and each issued a statement
condemning political violence. Harris' added that she was "deeply disturbed" by
the day's events and that "we all must do our part to ensure that this incident
does not lead to more violence."
Biden said he had directed his team to ensure the Secret Service "has every
resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former
President's continued safety."
In the aftermath, Trump checked in with allies, including running mate Ohio
Sen. JD Vance, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and several Fox News hosts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spent several hours with Trump and called
him "unstoppable."
Fox News host Sean Hannity recounted on air his conversation with the former
president's golf partner, Steve Witkoff.
They had been on the fifth hole and about to go up to putt when they heard a
"pop pop, pop pop." Within seconds, he said Witkoff recounted, Secret Service
agents "pounced" on Trump and "covered him" to protect him.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that
included a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser. His campaign
had not announced any public plans for Trump on Sunday. He often spends the
morning playing golf.
Trump has had a stepped-up security footprint since the assassination
attempt in July. When he is at Trump Tower in New York, parked dump trucks have
formed a wall outside the building. At outdoor rallies, he now speaks from
behind bulletproof glass.
The Florida golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he played, but
there are several areas around the perimeter of the property where golfers are
visible from the fence line. Secret Service agents and officers in golf carts
and on ATVs generally secure the area several holes ahead and behind Trump.
Agents also usually bring an armored vehicle onto the course to shelter Trump
quickly should a threat arise.
The Palm Beach County sheriff said the entire golf course would have been
lined with law enforcement if Trump were the president, but because he is not,
"security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible."
"I would imagine that the next time he comes to the golf course, there will
probably be a little more people around the perimeter," Bradshaw said. "But the
Secret Service did exactly what they should have done."
Late Sunday, Trump posted a message on social media thanking the Secret
Service and law enforcement for keeping him safe, calling them "brave and
dedicated Patriots," adding that it was "certainly an interesting day!"
He was to be briefed in person Monday by acting Secret Service director
Ronald Rowe about the investigation into the assassination attempt, according
to a person familiar with the plan for the briefing who was not authorized to
speak publicly.
Former presidents and their spouses have Secret Service protection for life,
but the security around former presidents varies according to threat levels and
exposure, with the toughest measures typically being taken in the immediate
aftermath of their leaving office.
Trump's protective detail has been higher than some other former presidents
because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again.
The man in custody was Ryan Routh, three law enforcement officials told the
AP. The officials who identified the suspect spoke on the condition of
anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Records show Routh, 58, lived in North Carolina for most of his life before
moving to Hawaii in 2018. In 2020, he made a social media post backing Trump's
reelection, but in more recent years his posts have expressed support for Biden
and Harris.
Routh tried to recruit Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to fight in
Ukraine, and spent several months in the country, according to an interview
with The New York Times last year.
The FBI was leading the investigation and working to determine any motive.
Attorney General Merrick Garland was receiving regular updates. Agents with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping investigate.
"The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what
appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump," the bureau
said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said the state would do its own
investigation, posting on X that, "The people deserve the truth about the would
be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president
and current GOP nominee."
News reporters were not with Trump on Sunday. Bucking tradition, Trump's
campaign has not arranged to have a protective pool of reporters travel with
him, as is standard for major party nominees and for the president. Harris does
not have a protective pool at all times, but does allow reporters to travel
with her for public events.
Snyder, the Martin County sheriff, said the suspect was apprehended within
minutes of the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
putting out a "very urgent BOLO" -- or "be on the lookout" alert.
Snyder said his deputies "immediately flooded" northbound I-95 and "we
pinched in on the car, got it safely stopped and got the driver in custody."
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