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Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 15, 2024. This marks the second such incident in just two months, following a previous attempt in Pennsylvania.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii, was spotted by Secret Service agents near the golf course fence. Bradshaw stated, "With a rifle and scope, like that is not a long distance," referring to Routh's position 300 to 500 yards from Trump.
The Secret Service acted swiftly, opening fire on Routh, who then fled the scene. He was apprehended shortly after on I-95 by local law enforcement. Authorities recovered an AR-style rifle and a GoPro camera, presumably set up to record the planned attack.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the former president's safety, stating, "President Trump is safe after the incident." Trump was seen leaving the golf course in his motorcade hours later, heading to his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Routh's background has raised questions about potential motives. A longtime neighbor from Greensboro, North Carolina, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox 8, "I knew he was a little cuckoo," adding, "He's going to be going away for a long time." The neighbor also mentioned Routh's history with firearms, saying, "I've seen the guns myself and all, and, yeah, they had a lot of guns and stuff over there."
Records show Routh has a criminal history in North Carolina, including charges for carrying a concealed weapon and a particularly alarming felony in April 2002 for "possessing a weapon of mass destruction."
The incident has sparked political reactions. Vice President Kamala Harris called for calm, stating, "We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence." House Speaker Mike Johnson, who visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, described the former president as "unstoppable" in a post on social media.
As the FBI leads the investigation, questions arise about security measures for former presidents. Sheriff Bradshaw noted that Trump's security detail was lighter because he isn't a sitting president, despite the recent attempts on his life.
This latest incident has reignited debates about political rhetoric and violence in the lead-up to the November 5 election. As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant against potential threats to public figures.
