JJust two months after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July during a rally in Pennsylvania, authorities foiled another apparent attempt on the Republican presidential candidate’s life on Sunday at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump was unharmed and a suspect who fled the scene was arrested. Politicians from all camps have condemned the attack and law enforcement is investigating.
Here’s what you should know:
Hidden in the bushes: What happened
As Trump was golfing around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, a Secret Service agent standing one hole ahead of the former president noticed a gun muzzle poking out of bushes on the golf course an estimated 300 to 500 yards away, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a news conference later Sunday. (For comparison, the July shooter was about 400 yards — about a third of the distance — from Trump.)
When Secret Service agents opened fire on the gunman hiding in the bushes, Bradshaw said he dropped his weapon and other items – an “AK-47 rifle with a scope, two backpacks covered in ceramic tiles hanging on the fence, and a GoPro (camera)” – and fled in a vehicle.
It is unclear whether the suspect managed to shoot Secret Service agents during the fight, a Secret Service representative said during a press conference on Sunday.
A witness reported seeing the suspect fleeing from the bushes and taking photos of the vehicle he jumped into. Authorities were able to stop the vehicle on a highway, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post around 3:30 p.m. “We didn’t give him a chance to fight back, we arrested him, forced him off the road and took him out at gunpoint,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told media during the later press conference about the arrest, adding that the suspect was unarmed, “relatively calm” and “not very emotionless” when he was stopped.
The witness was called to confirm that the suspect was the same person who was previously seen fleeing. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name, although anonymous law enforcement sources have identified the arrested man to several media outlets as Ryan Routh.
Read more: What we know so far about the Trump golf course shooter – and what we don’t
“I will NEVER CAPITULATE!”: Trump’s response
In an email to his supporters, Trump wrote: “There was a shooting near me, but before the rumor mill gets out of control, I want you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND FINE! Nothing will stop me. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
After the incident, Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach resort about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from the golf course, the Associated Press reported.
Despite another apparent assassination attempt on him, Trump was in a “good mood” on Sunday evening, both his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and his supporter, Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.), wrote on social media that they had both spoken to the former president.
CBS reported, citing Trump’s friends, family and advisers, that he joked that he wished he could have finished his round of golf.
Fox News host Sean Hannity said he spoke to Trump’s golf partner, real estate investor Steve Witkoff, on Sunday, who recalled that Trump made a “special effort” to express his gratitude to the Secret Service agents on site.
An internal Trump campaign email urged campaign staff to “stay vigilant,” the AP reported. “This is not a matter we take lightly. Your safety is always our highest priority,” the email said. “As we enter the final 50 days of President Trump’s campaign, we must remember that only by working together as a team can we save America from those who seek to destroy it.”
In a Truth Social post Sunday night, Trump said, “I want to thank everyone for their concern and well wishes – it has truly been an interesting day! Most of all, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office of brave and dedicated patriots, and all law enforcement for the incredible job they did today at Trump International to keep me SAFE as the 45th President of the United States and Republican candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election. THE JOB WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
“No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) posted on X. “He is unstoppable.”
Hannity, who called Sunday’s incident “another security failure,” said on the show that he had spoken to Trump’s son Eric, who told him: “How many lives does my father have left here? He can only dodge so many bullets.”
“People have a right to the truth”: ongoing investigations
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on X on Sunday afternoon that the agency was “investigating a security incident involving former President Donald Trump.”
Trump had no public events scheduled for Sunday and his golf game was only added to his schedule at the last minute, CNN reported, raising questions about how the gunman might have prepared for the attack. CNN also reported, citing a law enforcement source, that the FBI launched a “global” investigation after the arrested suspect’s online activity involved platforms headquartered outside the U.S., though no co-conspirators were identified.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis posted on X that the state would conduct a separate investigation into the incident. “The people have a right to know the truth about the assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current Republican candidate,” said DeSantis, Trump’s former rival in the primaries who has since endorsed him.
Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) and Jason Crow (D-Colorado) of the Congressional Task Force on the Earlier Assassination of Trump released a joint statement saying they had “requested a briefing from U.S. intelligence on what happened and the response from security forces.” They said they were grateful that Trump was unharmed, “but they remain deeply concerned about and condemn political violence in all its forms” and “will provide updates as we learn more.”
In a statement, Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) called on Biden to “provide President Trump with the same security measures that a sitting president is entitled to in order to ensure his safety.” Bradshaw, the sheriff of Palm Beach County, said during Sunday’s press conference that one reason the entire perimeter of the golf course was not secured was because Trump was not afforded the same level of protection as a sitting president and that “security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service believes are possible.”
“Violence has no place”: Democrats, heads of state and celebrities react
President Joe Biden praised the Secret Service and law enforcement in a White House statement, expressed relief that Trump was safe, and reiterated: “There is no place for political violence or violence of any kind in our country.” He added: “I have directed my team to continue to ensure that the Secret Service has all the necessary resources, capabilities and protections to ensure the continued safety of the former President.”
Both Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, posted on X that they were “glad” Trump was safe and that “violence has no place in the United States.” “That’s not who we are as a nation,” Walz said.
“Political violence has no place in a civilized society,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “The alleged perpetrator,” he added, “should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, a member of the congressional task force on the July Trump assassination attempt, told CNN he was “very concerned” about the Secret Service’s ability to protect the former president in the open. Americans should also be concerned about how “a second person who was obviously disturbed could get so close to the former president with a gun.” He added: “This is starting to become embarrassing for the agency, and people in Congress are confused as to why we’re in this situation now for the second time.”
Outside the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that while he was “relieved” that the assassination attempt on Trump had failed, “we should not rely on luck.” He added: “We send our best wishes to Donald and Melania and hope that all measures are taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a US presidential candidate are thwarted in advance.”
Both Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador condemned the attack on Trump on social media. “Democratic processes must always be guided by peace,” Sheinbaum said.
Elon Musk, who supported Trump shortly after he survived the assassination attempt in July, wrote in a now-deleted post on X: “And no one is even trying to kill Biden/Kamala.” (In July, a man was arrested in Florida for threatening to kill Biden, and in August, a man was arrested in Virginia for threatening to kill Harris.) The tech billionaire continued to respond to posts on X expressing support for Trump and blaming Democratic rhetoric for the violence against him.
Comedian Jon Stewart said backstage at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night that he and his Daily Show What our colleagues are trying to do is “not feel like we’re in the spotlight and we have to make a profound statement about the moment. I don’t know if we can do that.” However, he offered some tongue-in-cheek advice: “I think the one rule we could all benefit from in terms of our engagement is ‘no shooting.’ No matter how angry you are, no matter who you don’t like, who you hate… I think implementing a ‘no shooting’ rule would be the way to calm things down a little bit.”
