Former President Donald Trump is safe following what appears to be an assassination attempt at his Florida golf course, with authorities confirming a “potential suspect” is in custody.
Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of a rifle emerging from some bushes and immediately opened fire, according to officials. The FBI reported that Trump was between 300 and 500 yards (275 to 455 meters) away at the time.
At the scene, authorities discovered an AK47-style firearm, a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera. A witness said they saw the suspect fleeing from the bushes and jumping into a black Nissan after agents fired at him multiple times. The witness captured a picture of the vehicle and its license plate, which led to the suspect being stopped in Martin County, north of the golf club.
“We contacted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, alerted them, and they spotted the vehicle, pulled it over, and detained the individual,” said Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County. “We then flew the witness to the location, and he identified the suspect as the person who had fled from the bushes and jumped into the car,” the sheriff added during a news briefing.
In an email to his supporters, Trump assured them that he was “safe and well,” stating, “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
The incident took place almost exactly two months after another assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman grazed Trump’s ear.
The Secret Service later confirmed via a post on X that they were investigating a “protective incident” involving Trump that occurred shortly before 14:00 EST (19:00 BST) on Sunday.
Sheriff Bradshaw praised the actions of the Secret Service agents, saying, “The agent on the course did a fantastic job.” He added, “They had an agent positioned one hole ahead of the president, and he spotted the rifle barrel sticking out of a fence and immediately engaged the individual, who then fled.”
Following the incident, security has been significantly heightened around Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property and his nearby golf course in West Palm Beach.
US media outlets, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, have identified the suspect in the golf course incident as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh from Hawaii. BBC Verify found social media profiles that match the name, which reveal that Routh had previously called for foreign fighters to join the conflict in Ukraine against Russian forces.
Routh has a criminal history in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he was charged and convicted for various offenses between 2002 and 2010. These included carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, hit-and-run, driving with a revoked license, and possession of stolen property, according to CBS News.
Following the golf course incident, the White House confirmed that both President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris were briefed. Biden expressed relief, saying, “I am relieved that the former president is unharmed.” Vice President Harris, currently running in a tight race against Trump ahead of the November 5 election, issued a statement condemning the apparent assassination attempt.
“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 stated.
The incident also brings to mind an earlier attack on July 13, when Trump was injured at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that event, a gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at Trump with an AR-15–style rifle from a nearby rooftop. Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by a Secret Service sniper, but one audience member was tragically killed. The Secret Service came under intense scrutiny following the shooting, leading to the resignation of its director, Kimberly Cheatle, within two weeks.
