WEST PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt on Sunday in Florida. Both the FBI and Trump’s campaign have confirmed that Trump was safe and unharmed following the incident.
The US Secret Service reported that one or more agents “opened fire on a gunman” near the boundary of Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach. An “AK-47 style rifle” equipped with a scope and a GoPro video camera were recovered at the scene, signifying clear premeditation. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the suspect managed to flee in a black car. However, with the assistance of a witness, law enforcement authorities identified and tracked down the vehicle.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw addressed the media, stating, “We have somebody in custody right now that is a potential suspect.” Further details about the detained individual were not disclosed at the time.
The incident unfolded while Trump was golfing at his course, which is situated not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence. The gunman was reportedly seen at a hole ahead of Trump on the golf course, prompting immediate action from the Secret Service agents on-site.
Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung reassured in a statement, “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity.”
Notably, this alarming occurrence is the second attempt on Trump’s life in recent months. On July 13, a gunman wounded the former president in the ear as he delivered a speech at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
While authorities have yet to confirm if the gunman fired directly at the former president during the golf course incident, Secret Service agents did engage and repel the suspect. “We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents,” stated Rafael Barros of the Secret Service.
Sheriff Bradshaw emphasized the gravity of the situation by noting that the rifle barrel was seen sticking out of the fence. He further elaborated that the suspect was set up approximately 300 to 500 yards away, a feasible range for a scoped rifle.
In an interview with CNN, Sheriff William Snyder of neighboring Martin County shared that the potential suspect exhibited a “relatively calm, flat affect. He was not displaying a lot of emotions.”
The FBI has launched a sweeping investigation into what appears to be an attempted assassination. As of Sunday afternoon, there were no indications of the suspect’s motive.
This incident has sparked heightened concern for the safety of all presidential candidates. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were quickly briefed about the attack. “They are relieved to know that he is safe,” the White House stated. Vice President Harris also expressed her relief, commenting, “Violence has no place in America.”
The US Secret Service, already under scrutiny following the Pennsylvania incident, faced renewed criticism. Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the agency, resigned amid the fallout, and at least five Secret Service agents were placed on administrative leave. In her resignation letter, Cheatle acknowledged that the agency “fell short” of its mission to protect the nation’s leaders.
As this story develops, the public eye remains closely trained on both the investigation’s findings and the measures taken to ensure the safety of the candidates ahead of the November election.
