In another shocking incident, the FBI is investigating a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. This time, the attempt took place at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Secret Service agents were forced to open fire on a lone gunman who was dangerously close to the 45th president.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, September 15, comes just two months after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump, currently the GOP’s presidential nominee for 2024, was unharmed thanks to the swift actions of Secret Service agents, but the brazen attempt has once again placed him at the center of a growing security concern.
FBI and Secret Service Investigate
According to the FBI, they are working closely with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Secret Service to investigate the apparent assassination attempt. Jeffrey Veltri, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office, stated that they are seeking the public’s help with any tips related to the case. Veltri also advised citizens to avoid the area around Trump’s golf course as the investigation continues.
Trump’s Statement: “I Will Never Surrender!”
Despite the dangerous encounter, Trump remains defiant. In a statement following the incident, the former president declared, “I AM SAFE AND WELL. Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” His running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, later confirmed that Trump is in “good spirits” and remains focused on the upcoming election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed relief, tweeting a photo of himself with Trump at Mar-a-Lago just hours after the incident, saying, “No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable.”
AK-47-Style Weapon Found
During a press conference on Sunday evening, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed that an AK-47-style rifle was recovered at the scene. The weapon, along with two black backpacks and a GoPro camera, was found just 400 to 500 yards away from where Trump had been golfing.
Bradshaw explained that a Secret Service agent, stationed one hole ahead of Trump, spotted the gun barrel protruding through a chain-link fence and immediately engaged the suspect. This quick action led to the suspect fleeing the scene.
Photos of an AK-style rifle, a backpack, and a GoPro camera found on a fence near Trump International Golf Club following yesterday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Photo: Stephany Matat/AP
What We Know About the Suspect
While the suspect’s identity has not yet been released, law enforcement sources have confirmed that he was detained shortly after the incident. Reports suggest that the suspect remained calm during the arrest and asked no questions.
State and federal charges are expected to be filed, with Palm Beach County State Attorney David Aronberg confirming that the suspect will first face state charges. However, federal charges are likely to follow as the investigation unfolds.
Routh’s criminal history includes a 2002 charge for “possessing a weapon of mass destruction,” which involved a fully automatic machine gun, according to an interview WIRED conducted with the arresting officer in North Carolina. NBC also uncovered over 100 criminal counts filed against Routh in North Carolina, primarily in Guilford County, though the outcomes of these cases remain unclear.
The New York Times described Routh as a former construction worker from Greensboro, N.C., though he was most recently based in Hawai’i. Both Semafor and The Times noted that Routh had previously been interviewed about his efforts to volunteer in Ukraine as a soldier, where he described the conflict as “good versus evil” in a 2022 interview with Newsweek Romania.
Reactions from Washington
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were both briefed on the assassination attempt. In a statement, Biden expressed relief that Trump was unharmed, while also commending the work of the Secret Service. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Violence has no place in our country.”
DeSantis Orders Independent Investigation
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the state will conduct its own independent investigation into the assassination attempt. “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president,” DeSantis said.
Security Concerns at Trump’s Golf Course
Sheriff Bradshaw acknowledged that security was lighter than it would have been if Trump were still the sitting president. He noted that security at Trump’s golf course is largely based on the Secret Service’s assessment of potential threats.
While Trump was fortunate to have escaped unharmed, the recent assassination attempts have raised serious concerns about his safety on the campaign trail as the 2024 election approaches.
As details continue to emerge, one thing is clear: the political landscape has never been more volatile, and the stakes for both Trump and his supporters have never been higher.
Facebook has totally scrubbed the profile of shooter Ryan Routh, and now we know WHY
In May of this year, Ryan uploaded this letter from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. When translated, you can see that Ryan was serving in COMBAT fighting on behalf of Ukraine.
He was working as a MERCENARY as part of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion.
NOT only that, but Ryan was a RECRUITER for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion while living in North Carolina, actively seeking recruits from the US.
We are dealing with a manchurian candidate assassin that is at the nexus of the CIA, Military Industrial Complex, and the Deep State.
FOLLOW: @GeneralPatton17
Also disappointed that he has already been released 😕
Quick reaction saved the day.
Job well done.