FBI investigating apparent trump assassination attempt in Florida
Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, the FBI says
Donald Trump was the target of what the FBI described as “an apparent assassination attempt” at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf club on Sunday, just nine weeks after surviving a previous attempt on his life. Trump confirmed he was safe, while authorities took a suspect into custody.
The incident occurred when U.S. Secret Service agents, stationed a few holes ahead of where Trump was playing, spotted the muzzle of an AK-style rifle protruding from the bushes about 400 yards away. In response, an agent fired at the gunman, who dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV, leaving behind the rifle, two backpacks, a scope, and a GoPro camera, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Law enforcement apprehended the suspect in a neighboring county.
This marks another unsettling event in a tumultuous election season. Back on July 13, Trump was grazed by a bullet during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Just eight days later, President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, making way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about Secret Service security protocols, following the agency’s admission of failures during the summer’s assassination attempt.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder noted that the detained suspect displayed a calm and emotionless demeanor upon arrest, showing no curiosity about the situation. “He never asked, ‘What is this about?’ There were long rifles, flashing lights, and a lot going on, but he never questioned it,” Snyder said.
In an email to supporters, Trump addressed the situation, writing, “There were gunshots near me, but before any rumors spiral, I want you to hear it from me first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” He continued, “Nothing will stop me. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
After the incident, Trump returned to his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. While his campaign had planned several events, including a live discussion on cryptocurrency on Monday and stops in Michigan and Long Island later in the week, it was unclear how the shooting would impact his schedule.
In an internal email obtained by the AP, Trump campaign staff were urged to stay vigilant as the race entered its final 50 days. The message read, “We can only save America from those who want to destroy it by working together as one team.”
Both President Biden and Vice President Harris condemned the violence, with Harris expressing her deep concern over the events and calling for unity to prevent further violence. Biden also directed his team to ensure that the Secret Service had all necessary resources to guarantee Trump’s safety.
Following the incident, Trump communicated with allies, including Ohio Senator JD Vance, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, and several Fox News hosts. House Speaker Mike Johnson spent time with Trump and called him “unstoppable.” Fox News host Sean Hannity relayed a conversation with Trump’s golfing partner, Steve Witkoff, who described hearing a “pop pop, pop pop” before Secret Service agents quickly moved to shield Trump.
Trump had returned to Florida after a West Coast trip, which included a rally in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah. He often spends his mornings playing golf at his Palm Beach club, though no public events had been scheduled for Sunday.
Since the assassination attempt in July, Trump’s security measures have significantly increased. At Trump Tower in New York, dump trucks now form a barrier outside the building, and at outdoor rallies, he speaks from behind bulletproof glass.
