(Washington) The FBI has announced that it is investigating “what appears to be an assassination attempt” on Donald Trump that occurred at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The incident comes just nine weeks after the Republican presidential candidate survived another assassination attempt. Mr Trump has said he is safe.
U.S. intelligence officials opened fire on a man who pointed a Kalashnikov at the club while the former president was on the course, three law enforcement officials said. The man dropped the weapon and fled in a sport utility vehicle (SUV), before being caught and taken into custody in a neighboring county.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, two of the officials said. No injuries were reported.
The incident is the latest shock in a campaign year marked by unprecedented upheaval. It comes about two months after Mr. Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, a bullet grazing his ear. The following week, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
In an email to his supporters, Donald Trump said: “There have been shots fired in my neighborhood, but before the rumors start to get out of hand, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND HEALTHY!”
“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER give up!” the former president added.
PHOTO ALEX BRANDON, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Donald Trump often spends the morning playing golf, before having lunch at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach, one of three he owns in the state.
The circumstances of the incident
The golf course had been partially closed for Mr. Trump’s round. Agents were passing a few holes when they noticed the person with the gun, officials said. There are several areas around the perimeter of the property where golfers are visible from the fence. Secret Service agents and officers in golf carts and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) typically secure the area of several holes in front of and behind Mr. Trump when he plays golf. Agents also typically bring an armored vehicle to the course to quickly shelter Trump in case of a threat.
The former president returned to Florida over the weekend after a West Coast tour that included a rally Friday night in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah. His campaign had not released Mr. Trump’s plans for Sunday. He often spends the morning playing golf before dining at the club, one of three he owns in the state.
The former president has enjoyed tighter security since the assassination attempt in July. When he was at Trump Tower in New York, a line of dump trucks formed a wall outside the building. At his outdoor rallies, he now speaks behind bulletproof glass.
Mr. Trump was returned safely after the incident to his private Mar-a-Lago club, where he resides, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Washington noted that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept informed of the investigation. The White House added that they were relieved to know their political opponent was safe.
Mme Harris, in a statement, said she was glad Mr. Trump was safe, adding that “violence has no place in America.” In a post on X, Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Mr. Trump’s top allies in Congress, said he spoke with the former president after the incident and that he was in good spirits and remains “one of the strongest people I have ever known.”
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder said the suspect was apprehended minutes after the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office issued an emergency alert to other law enforcement agencies, detailing the specific vehicle being sought, the license plate number and the driver’s description.
Mr. Snyder added that his deputies “immediately flooded” northbound I-95, deploying to every exit between the Palm Beach County line to the south and the St. Lucie County line to the north.
PHOTO CHANDAN KHANNA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder
“One of my highway patrol units saw the vehicle, matched the plate and we zeroed in on the vehicle,” Snyder said. “We cornered the car, stopped it safely and took the driver into custody.” Snyder told WPTV that the suspect “was not armed when we removed him from the car.” The man had a calm, neutral demeanor and showed little emotion when he was stopped by police, Snyder added, saying the suspect did not ask why he was being stopped.
“He never asked, ‘What is this about?’ Of course, law enforcement had their long guns, their flashing lights, and there’s a lot going on at once. He never questioned that,” Snyder said.
The suspect arrested is believed to be Ryan Wesley Routh, three law enforcement sources told The Associated Press. Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates, a Justice Department spokeswoman said.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office message said the suspect was apprehended near Palm City, Fla., about 45 miles north of Mr. Trump’s golf course. The northbound lanes of I-95 were closed, the sheriff’s office noted.
A message to campaign officials seeking information on the security status and location of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, did not immediately receive a response.
Max Egusquiza of Palm Beach described the emergency response outside Mr. Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach.
“From what I saw, there were five black SUVs blocking a gray Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more police cars coming from nearby streets,” he said.
The continuation of the campaign
Donald Trump is set to speak about cryptocurrency live Monday night on the social network X for the launch of his sons’ crypto platform. He is expected to do so from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The former president plans to resume his campaign on Tuesday for a town hall in Flint, Michigan, with his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, followed by a campaign rally in New York City’s Long Island on Wednesday.
At the end of the week, he is scheduled to attend and address the Israeli-American Council’s national summit in Washington, D.C., and hold a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Saturday.