The FBI is treating a shooting incident at Trump International Golf Club in Florida as an assassination attempt against former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Federal agents are investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” the FBI confirmed on Sunday.
The incident occurred shortly before 2pm local time, when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel sticking through a fence surrounding the resort.
The agent “engaged” with the threat, firing four to six rounds, according to West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. The suspect fled the scene, but was later arrested.
The person detained is Ryan Wesley Routh, according to three law enforcement sources, cited by the media. Routh owns a small construction company in Hawaii and had repeatedly criticized Trump on social media.
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The Kremlin has commented on the alleged attempt on Trump’s life.
“This is not really our business. We are, of course, watching closely the information that comes from the United States,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
“We see how tense the situation is there, including between political rivals” he noted, adding that Russia has never “interfered” and is “not interfering now” in the election process in the US.
Dozens of social media posts from 2022 of Routh expressing sympathy and support for Ukraine have surfaced. While US security agencies have yet to investigate his exact motives in allegedly targeting Trump, in multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), Routh said he was willing to die in the conflict with Russia.
He also called on his followers to “burn the Kremlin to the ground,” leading to media speculation that the alleged attempt to attack Trump may have been driven by the former president’s position on the Ukraine conflict.
Routh also visited Ukraine in 2022, according to video and photos he made while there. He encouraged foreigners to fight in the conflict through his Facebook account last year.
Federal agents probing the apparent assassination attempt on Trump expect that a federal court in South Florida will require “a mental health assessment” of the suspect before any possible criminal proceedings, a law enforcement source has told CNN.
Based on numerous “unusual rants” believed to have been posted by Ryan Wesley Routh online relating to international geopolitical events, the source said federal investigators expect his mental health to be evaluated as part of court proceedings to determine whether he can stand trial.
Senior advisor to Donald Trump’s campaign Dan Scavino Jr. has posted a comment from the Republican presidential candidate on X, thanking the public for their “concern and well wishes.” “It was certainly an interesting day!” he added.
Trump thanked the Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office for the “incredible job done.”
Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has said he is relieved Trump was not injured.
“I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” Vance wrote on X.
Tech mogul Elon Musk has reacted to the news of yet another attempt on Donald Trump’s life by wondering why “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” in a post on his social media X.
Federal agents are conducting a search of a North Carolina residence linked to the detained suspect, named by Ryan Routh in media reports, but still not officially identified by authorities.
Vice President Kamala Harris has issued a longer statement condemning political violence and praising the Secret Service agents who thwarted the attempted assassination of her rival.
“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” she said.
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the US Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission,” she added.
Donald Trump has praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement agents for doing an “absolutely outstanding” job in keeping him safe.
“It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE,” he wrote in a new post on Truth Social.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes,” he added, stating that he feels “very proud to be an American.”
The suspect remained silent while being detained, according to State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, David Aronberg. The official said the suspect had a “rap sheet,” but did not confirm his identity.
“He knew enough to stay silent,” Aronberg told CNN. “He did not apparently speak to officers, he was calm. So, it looked like a person who has done this before, not necessarily this crime, but someone who has had repeated interactions with law enforcement.”
Fox News has obtained a photo of the suspect, believed to be Ryan Wesley Routh, moments after his arrest. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder confirmed the accuracy of the photo, but has yet to confirm the man’s identity.
The bipartisan task force investigating the July attack against Trump said it was “deeply concerned” about political violence, Chairman Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said in a joint statement, promising to “share updates as we learn more.”
“The Task Force is monitoring this attempted assassination of former President Trump in West Palm Beach this afternoon. We have requested a briefing with the US Secret Service about what happened and how security responded. We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” they said.
Trump’s former White House doctor, Ronny L Jackson, who had treated his ear after the assassination attempt in July, told the New York Times that he called Trump to check in on him.
“He told me he was always glad to hear from me but he was glad he didn’t need my services today,” Jackson said. “I just told him I was glad he was OK and he said he can’t believe this happened.”
Donald Trump Jr. has labeled the suspected would-be shooter a “psychopath” who probably “spends a lot of time watching leftwing propaganda.”
The acting US Secret Service director Ronald Rowe, who has held the position since Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign after the assassination attempt against Trump in July, is on his way to Florida, CNN reports.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that his state will conduct “its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club.”
“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,” he wrote on X.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident and is “relieved that the former President is unharmed,” and emphasized that “there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,” according to a statement from the White House.
“A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe,” Biden said.
“I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” he added.
While the suspects’s identity and motive have not yet been officially confirmed by authorities, law enforcement sources informed AP, CNN, and Fox News that the detained man’s name was Ryan Wesley Routh.
A man by that name appeared to be a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Moscow, according to US media and internet users who analyzed his social media accounts before they were deleted.
Routh’s social media profiles were filled with posts highlighting his “self-proclaimed involvement” in the Ukraine conflict and attempts to recruit soldiers to fight against Russia, according to CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller.
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NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has questioned whether US intelligence agencies had any “contact” with the attempted shooter, pointing to his alleged Ukraine connections and apparent support for Kiev.
“We know little so far, but w alleged Trump shooter’s personal and public participation in military activity in Ukraine, it is hard to imagine this White House’s agencies can claim zero contact – ”clean hands.” Something of an Oswald vibe, here. Congress should get answers,” Snowden wrote on X.
The whistleblower acknowledged that the suspect’s ID and motive has yet to be officially confirmed, but insisted it was “precisely why the public needs rapid, reliable, and non-evasive answers from the agencies you pay to provide them.”
Donald Trump has issued another statement, saying: “My resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life!”
Fox News and New York Post columnist, Karol Markowicz, has shared a photo of the suspect being pulled out of his vehicle and detained by law enforcement. The man’s identity and motive has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Authorities have yet to officially confirm the suspect’s identity, but multiple media outlets, including Fox News and NBC News have named him as Ryan Wesley Routh, described as a white male in his mid-60s.
Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, also said he was “glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris said that “violence has no place in America” following the assassination attempt against her Republican rival at the upcoming presidential elections.
“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe,” she wrote in a brief statement on X.
The US Secret Service was “limited” in its ability to secure the entire perimeter of the golf course, as would be the case if Trump was a sitting president, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
“The golf course is surrounded by shrubbery, so when somebody gets into the shrubbery, they’re pretty much out of sight, all right, and at this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president,” Bradshaw said.
“If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible. So, I would imagine that the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.”
Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, said he spoke with Trump after the incident and he was “amazingly, in good spirits.”
“Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” he wrote on X.
Donald Trump has issued a statement confirming he is “safe and well.” He declared that “nothing” will slow him down and that he will “never surrender.”
Authorities have released several photos that show the suspect’s rifle and other belongings near a fence of Trump’s golf course.
The suspect was unarmed and “relatively calm” when authorities detained him, according to Sheriff Snyder.
“He was not displaying a lot of emotions. Never asked, ‘What is this about?’” the sheriff said, adding that his agency “flooded” Interstate 95 and closed a large swathe of the highway, which allowed them safely stop the suspect's vehicle.
The suspect’s belongings, recovered at the scene, are being processed, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw has announced. Authorities found an AK-style rifle with a scope, a GoPro camera, and two backpacks in the area.
So far there is only one person of interest in the investigation, a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Teri Barbera, has said.
Donald Trump was reportedly around 300-450 meters away from the suspected gunman. Secret Service agents “pounced on” and “covered him,” according to Fox News citing Trump’s golf partner, Steve Witkoff.
The gunman was reportedly wielding an AK-pattern rifle, which has been recovered by the authorities at the scene, according to media reports.
A suspect believed to be connected to the incident has been taken into custody, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has 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 Secret Service has acknowledged the “protective incident” involving Trump, stating on X, formerly Twitter, that it’s working with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to investigate it.
Trump’s campaign has said the former president was not harmed in the shooting and has 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 has said.
A shooting incident occurred on Sunday at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while the ex-US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was playing golf.