Former President Donald Trump was once again involved in an “assassination attempt” incident while playing golf at a golf course in Florida on Sunday, September 15th. The Secret Service discovered a gunman with an AK-47 rifle aimed at the golf course from 300 to 500 yards away.
This marked the second apparent assassination attempt on Trump within a few months. The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Routh from Hawaii, fled the golf course after the Secret Service fired shots and was later arrested on I-95 Interstate Highway.
After this incident, a bipartisan special working group investigating the July attack expressed deep concerns about political violence. The chairs of the special working group, Republican Congressman Mike Kelly and Democratic Chief Member Jason Crow, stated their concern about the attempted assassination of former President Trump in a joint statement.
They requested the Secret Service to report the situation and the security department’s response. The statement emphasized relief that Trump was unharmed but stressed their concern about political violence and condemned all forms of violence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that he and his wife visited Trump after the scary incident and spent time with him. He praised Trump’s resilience in the face of numerous attacks, calling him unstoppable.
Photos provided by law enforcement showed the suspect’s backpack, firearms, and other equipment. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw later explained that as Trump is not the current president, his security level is limited to areas deemed potentially risky by the Secret Service.
Meanwhile, House Republican Leader Steve Scalise criticized the security measures for Trump, emphasizing the need for enhanced protection considering it was the second attempt on Trump’s life in recent months.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik commended law enforcement for safeguarding Trump but questioned how the suspect could get close to Trump. She stressed the importance of a clear explanation for the incident.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized in a statement that political violence has no place in a democratic society. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s rival in the November US election, also condemned the incident, stating that violence has no place in the United States.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation concerning Trump’s safety and expressed relief that he was unharmed. Biden reiterated that political violence in any form is unacceptable and instructed his team to ensure the Secret Service has all necessary resources to protect Trump.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer commended the Secret Service for their swift response to ensure Trump’s safety and stressed that the country cannot tolerate any form of political violence.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, are actively investigating the incident. The attempted assassination incident on July 13 is still under investigation, with the assailant having been shot dead by the Secret Service.
Trump confirmed he was unharmed after the ordeal, reassuring the public of his safety and determination. He stated that despite the gunfire nearby, he was safe and well, vowing to keep moving forward and expressing eternal love and support for his followers.