Former President Donald J. Trump escaped harm Sunday, September 15, after what federal officials described as an apparent assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident marks the second attempt on Trump’s life in recent months.
Secret Service agents engaged a suspect who was pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope at Trump from approximately 400 to 500 yards away, according to law enforcement officials. The gunman, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, fled the scene but was apprehended in a neighboring county.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros told reporters at a briefing that the agency is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of the former president. Authorities recovered the rifle with a scope from bushes near the golf course, along with two backpacks and a GoPro camera.
Trump was on the golf course at Trump International Golf Club, several hundred yards from the suspect’s position, when Secret Service personnel opened fire toward the location of the shooter. It remains unclear whether the suspect fired any shots before fleeing in a black Nissan vehicle.
Routh was accused on September 16 of having a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a gun with its serial number removed. He is assigned a public defender and is scheduled to return to court for a bond hearing on Monday, September 23.
Trump assured his supporters that he was safe, expressing gratitude for the swift action of his security detail. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the situation and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.
President Biden condemned the assassination attempt on Monday during his first public appearance since the incident. He reiterated his statement that there is “no place” for political violence in America.
“I commend the Secret Service for their expert handling of the situation, that the former president was protected from harm and that the suspect is in custody,” Biden said.
“In America, we resolve our differences peacefully at the ballot box, not at the end of a gun,” he continued. “America has suffered too many times at the tragedy of an assassin’s bullet. It solved nothing and just tears the country apart.”
This latest security breach has raised concerns about protection for candidates ahead of the November presidential election. The Secret Service faces scrutiny for potential lapses that allowed the suspect to get into position near the golf course.
The incident follows a July assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left Trump not seriously wounded to his ear, and resulted in one fatality and two injuries. That incident prompted a mission assurance review by the Secret Service to assess gaps in their security planning.
Routh, 58, has a criminal history that includes a 2002 conviction for possessing a machine gun. He had previously expressed support for Trump in 2016 but later turned against him. Routh has been vocal about his support for Ukraine and has criticized Trump’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
In 2022, Routh traveled to Ukraine in hopes of fighting against Russia but was unable to join the Ukrainian military. He had also made political donations to Democratic causes and expressed support for former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Law enforcement officials are working to determine how Routh managed to access the area near Trump’s golf club with a high-powered rifle and lurk there. The Secret Service has stated that they provided an appropriate level of protection for Trump as a former president, but security measures will likely be increased for his future visits to the golf course.
The White House, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials have condemned the incident and called for increased security measures for the former president. A bipartisan congressional task force investigating the previous assassination attempt on Trump has requested a briefing from the Secret Service.
The debate over Trump’s security level has clashed with protocol and demands on the Secret Service’s budget, as former presidents are typically assigned a lighter detail compared to sitting presidents. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris have expressed the need for the Secret Service to have more resources and personnel to ensure Trump’s continued safety.
Trump’s campaign has not released an official statement regarding the incident, but sources close to the former president indicate he remains committed to his political activities and public appearances.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state would conduct its own investigation into how the suspect was able to get so close to Trump. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the security breach.
Routh’s son claims his father hated Trump but asserted he was not a violent person. Oran Routh told the press that his father disliked Trump “as every reasonable person does,” adding that he himself was not a fan. He reportedly expressed disbelief that his father could resort to violence against the former president.
“He’s my dad and all he’s had is couple traffic tickets, as far as I know,” the son said. “That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him.”