A person is in custody following what the FBI is calling an "attempted assassination" of former President Donald Trump on Sunday at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. This incident comes two months after a previous attempt on Trump's life during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. while Trump was golfing near his Mar-a-Lago estate. A Secret Service agent noticed a rifle with a scope hidden in bushes near the golf course, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained in a news conference. The Secret Service fired at the suspect, who managed to flee the scene in a black Nissan. It remains unclear whether the suspect managed to fire at the agents, according to Secret Service representative Rafael Barros.
A key break in the case came from a nearby witness who photographed the suspect's vehicle, aiding authorities in making an arrest. The individual taken into custody was identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, according to three senior law enforcement officials. However, his name was not publicly disclosed during the news conference.
Authorities recovered an AR-style rifle from the scene, alongside two backpacks and a GoPro camera found near the fence where the rifle was located, according to Sheriff Bradshaw.
Routh has an extensive criminal record, including a 2022 conviction for possessing a machine gun. Public records suggest that a Ryan Routh had lived in North Carolina and more recently in Hawaii, though NBC News has yet to confirm if this is the same individual involved in Sunday’s incident. Routh previously claimed to have traveled to Ukraine to support their war efforts, expressing frustration with the slow admission process for foreign soldiers, as reported in interviews with other media outlets.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, assured the public that the former president was "safe" following the incident. Trump left the golf course later that afternoon, returning to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
A senior law enforcement official confirmed that Trump was on the course when gunfire was heard nearby. He was reportedly playing between the fifth and sixth holes with friend and donor Steve Witkoff at the time of the incident.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg stated that the federal government would take over the case, with charges to be filed by the Justice Department. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that his state would also conduct an investigation, noting that "the people deserve the truth" about how the suspect got so close to the former president.
Despite the close call, Trump’s campaign schedule remains unchanged, with upcoming events planned in Michigan, New York, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina throughout the week.
This marks the second attempt on Trump’s life in just two months, heightening concerns about political violence as Election Day draws closer. Politicians from both sides of the aisle swiftly condemned the violence and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.
Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement expressing her concern over the attempted assassination and her gratitude that Trump was safe, emphasizing the need to condemn political violence. Similar sentiments were echoed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who stated that "violence has no place in our country."
President Joe Biden also weighed in, saying he had been briefed on the situation and was relieved that Trump was unharmed. He reiterated his stance against political violence and assured that the Secret Service would have all the necessary resources to protect Trump.
Several other prominent politicians, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, also spoke out against the violence, calling for the perpetrator to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Trump’s campaign seized on the incident, sending out a fundraising email that same day, where Trump vowed that his "resolve is only stronger" after yet another attempt on his life. His running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, noted that Trump was in "good spirits" following the incident.
This attempted assassination follows a July attack during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one supporter was killed, and two others were critically injured. Trump was escorted offstage by Secret Service agents, prompting his campaign to alter security protocols, including the addition of bulletproof glass at outdoor events.
The acting Secret Service Director, Ronald Rowe, is en route to Florida to oversee the investigation, while the agency remains on high alert following the previous assassination attempt earlier this year.