Trump ‘safe’ after gunshots reported
Donald Trump is safe and unharmed after a shooting incident was reported in his vicinity at a golf club in Florida, campaign officials for the Republican presidential candidate have said.
The incident occurred on Sunday at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, while the former US president was playing golf in the area.
Trump’s campaign said he was unharmed and had been safely evacuated from the site.
“President Trump is safe, following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,” Trump’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said.
The Secret Service acknowledged a “protective incident” involving Trump, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that it is working with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to investigate. The incident occurred shortly before 2pm local time, the service said.
American media has provided multiple conflicting accounts of the events, initial reports suggesting the incident did not involve Trump at all and was just two people shooting at each other.
Further reporting on the matter, however, indicated the shooting was likely related to Trump, with multiple sources telling CNN the Secret Service had fired at the suspect. Unnamed officials briefed on the matter told the broadcaster an armed individual intended to attack Trump.
A suspect believed to be connected to the incident has been taken into custody, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. A section of Interstate 95 has been shut down for the ongoing investigation, it added.
“We will update this information as it becomes available,” the sheriff’s office added.
The incident comes just weeks after Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The ex-president’s ear was grazed by a bullet as he addressed the event, while one supporter in the crowd was killed and two others injured. The perpetrator, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed on the spot by gunfire returned by a counter-sniper team.
