Former United States President Donald Trump mentioned he’s “safe and well” after what authorities mentioned gave the impression to be a second assassination try on the Republican candidate.
The FBI mentioned it’s investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of Trump on Sunday after the US Secret Service mentioned it opened hearth on a gunman on the former president’s golf resort in Florida.
“FEAR NOT! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” Trump mentioned in a press release on his fundraising web site.
“But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us.I will not stop fighting for you. I will Never Surrender.”
“I will always love you for supporting me,” the assertion added. “Through our UNITY we will Make America Great Again.”
FBI investigating “attempted assassination”
Trump had been {golfing} at his West Palm Seaside course, not removed from his Mar-a-Lago residence, throughout a day away from the presidential marketing campaign.
At a joint information convention involving the FBI, Secret Service and native officers, authorities mentioned {that a} Secret Service agent, who was one gap forward of Trump on the golf course, noticed an individual with a firearm situated close to the boundary of the resort and fired in his course.
It was unclear if the suspect fired again on the agent, officers added.
Palm Seaside County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw mentioned the suspect was 400 to 500 yards (365 to 457 metres) from Trump and it appeared he sought to movie himself.
The suspect fled the wooded space in a black car, however was rapidly situated and detained by regulation enforcement businesses, in response to officers.
A backpack, GoPro digicam, firearm scope and “AK-47-style rifle” have been recovered from the scene, officers mentioned.
“I would imagine the next time he comes on a golf course, there will probably be… more people around the perimeter,” Bradshaw advised reporters.
“But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done. They provided exactly what the protection should have been and their agents did a fantastic job.”
The New York Occasions and Fox Information named the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, citing unnamed regulation enforcement officers.
The White Home mentioned that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had each been briefed and could be stored up to date on the investigation.
The White Home added that each Biden and Harris have been “relieved” to know Trump is protected.
“Violence has no place in America,” Harris mentioned in a publish on X.
Trump’s working mate, J.D. Vance, expressed reduction that Trump had not been damage.
“I’m glad President Trump is safe,” Vance mentioned on X.
“I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
The incident comes simply over two months after Trump was grazed by a bullet throughout an try on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
Trump was wounded in his ear and one particular person attending the rally was killed within the assault.
The attacker, recognized as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The assault raised questions on safety for the candidates months out from the November 5 election between Trump and Harris.
Kimberly Cheatle was pressured to resign as Secret Service director below bipartisan congressional strain following the assassination try.
Ronald L. Rowe Jr, the company’s new appearing director, mentioned in August that he was “ashamed” of the safety lapse that had led to the assault.
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who represents New York’s twenty first District within the Home of Representatives, mentioned incident raises additional questions concerning the safety round Trump.
“We must ask ourselves how an assassin was allowed to get this close to President Trump again?” Stefanik mentioned in a press release.
“There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida.”
