U.S. Secret Service agents successfully thwarted an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump while he was golfing at his West Palm Beach course on Sunday afternoon.
This marks the second attempt on Trump’s life in just two months, and the FBI has taken the lead in investigating the incident.
At around 1:30 p.m., Secret Service agents spotted a man with an AK-47-style rifle near a chain-link fence surrounding the Trump International Golf Club.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that the suspect, who was approximately 300 to 500 yards away from Trump, was attempting to aim at the former president through the fence.
The Secret Service agent monitoring the course immediately opened fire on the suspect, causing him to flee.
Trump, who was on the fifth hole at the time, was quickly rushed back to the clubhouse in a golf cart. The former president was unharmed during the incident.
A witness told authorities they saw the suspect fleeing the scene and were able to provide law enforcement with a picture of the car and its license plate.
Using this information, police tracked the vehicle, a black Nissan, and arrested the suspect on I-95 in Martin County. Sheriff Bradshaw confirmed that the suspect remains in custody, though details about his identity have not yet been released.
“We were able to locate a witness that came to us and said, ‘Hey, I saw the guy running out of the bushes. He jumped into a black Nissan, and I took a picture of the vehicle and the tag,’” Bradshaw explained. “That information was vital in apprehending the suspect.”
Authorities also recovered the rifle, a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera from the area where the gunman was hiding.
Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office, announced that the FBI has assumed control of the federal investigation. “We’ve deployed investigative teams, crisis response members, bomb technicians, and evidence response teams,” Veltri said at a press conference.
While the investigation is ongoing, the FBI is expected to file federal charges against the suspect. Local authorities, including the state attorney, are also working on pre-trial detention motions and warrants.
Following the event, Trump’s spoke to Fox News, reassuring the public that he was safe. “Tell everybody I am fine and the Secret Service did a great job,” Trump said.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), also shared that he spoke with Trump before the news went public and described him as being in “good spirits.” Vance added, “I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
This attempt comes only two months after another assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was grazed by a bullet.
The suspect in that case was shot and killed at the scene. The Pennsylvania incident led to widespread criticism of the U.S. Secret Service for its lax security, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
In light of the increased threats to Trump’s safety, the Secret Service has ramped up its security measures, deploying additional resources around the former president.
However, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office said that if Trump were still a sitting president, there would have been even tighter security around the perimeter of the golf course.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, issued a statement following the event, expressing relief that Trump was unharmed. “Violence has no place in America,” Harris said on social media.
Despite the serious nature of the threat, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sent out a political post on social media shortly after the news broke, targeting Trump and his supporters.
The timing of his message has led to criticism, with many calling it inflammatory given the context.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also weighed in, stating that the state of Florida would conduct its own investigation into the assassination attempt, separate from the ongoing federal investigation.
With two assassination attempts in as many months, concerns about Trump’s security continue to grow as the 2024 presidential election approaches.