The FBI is investigating an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump that took place Sunday at his Florida golf club. Sadly, this marks the second attempt on the former president’s life in just two months. Trump was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach when Secret Service agents spotted a man armed with a rifle hiding in the bushes.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said agents opened fire on the suspect after spotting the rifle’s barrel through a fence. The suspect fled the scene in a car, but thanks to a witness who took a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, law enforcement tracked down and detained the individual. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, is now in FBI custody.
Routh, a self-employed housing builder from Hawaii, has a history of criticizing Trump on social media. He has expressed strong support for Ukraine and even traveled there after Russia’s invasion.
Law enforcement recovered an AK-47-style rifle, backpacks, and a GoPro camera at the scene. Routh’s online activity is under scrutiny as the FBI works with international partners to dig deeper into his background.
This attempted assassination comes after a similar incident in July during a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has come under fire for these repeated threats against Trump, with officials now on high alert. President Biden and Vice President Harris condemned the attack, emphasizing that political violence has no place in the U.S.
Trump, safe and unharmed, reassured his supporters in a statement, saying, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” The FBI’s investigation is ongoing, and security around Trump remains a top priority.
What does this mean for the state of violence in America? Are we seeing a new norm of threats against public figures? Let us hear your thoughts on this!
