Janice R. Andrews
After seeing a guy with an AK-style rifle near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on Sunday, federal agents are looking into a possible attempt to kill former President Donald Trump. The suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was caught after running away from the scene of the crime. He went to federal court Monday morning to face charges of federal gun crimes.
This is the second attempt on Trump’s life in the last nine weeks, which has raised worries about his safety. So far, this is what we know:
What took place on Sunday
Around 1:30 p.m., a U.S. Secret Service agent saw what looked like a gun sticking out of some bushes near the edge of Trump’s golf course, according to the police. Trump was playing golf with his long-time friend and advisor Steve Witkoff at the time. They were on the sixth hole.
Chief of the Acting Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, stated that the agent shot at the suspect, who ran away without firing back. Rowe made it clear that the suspect did not fire or get any shots off. He also said that the suspect did not have a clear line of sight on Trump.
At the scene of the crime, police found the gun, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera. These items are now being looked through for more proof.
Suspect Caught After Running Away
Soon after the crime, Routh was caught driving on I-95 in Martin County, which is north of Palm Beach. A person who saw Routh running out of the bushes gave police a key clue by taking a picture of his car and license plate, which led to his arrest.
Sheriff William Snyder of Martin County said that Routh was not armed when he was caught. The FBI got cell phone data that showed Routh had been near the golf course’s tree line for almost 12 hours before the crime.
The reason for the attempted murder is still unknown, and police are continuing their probe. Routh has been charged with having a gun while being a convicted criminal and having a gun whose serial number has been erased. As the case goes on, more charges are likely to be brought.
Trump’s answer: “I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
After what happened, Trump stayed at the golf club for a few hours before going back to his home at Mar-a-Lago safely after security was checked again.
Trump sent an email to his fans to comfort them, saying, “There were gunshots nearby, but before rumours get out of hand, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” “Nothing will slow me down,” he said. “I will NEVER GIVE UP!”
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, also went on social media to say that Trump was “in good spirits.” In an interview, Sean Hannity of Fox News said that Trump, who is always down to win, joked that he wanted to finish the fifth hole after what happened.
Reactions in politics
A wide range of politicians responded to the attempt on the president’s life. It made President Joe Biden happy to say, “I am thankful the former president is safe.” He also praised the work of law enforcement and asked Congress to make sure the Secret Service has all the tools it needs to protect famous politicians, especially in today’s divided political environment.
Vice President Kamala Harris said the same thing, calling for an end to all kinds of violence. “Violence has no place in America,” she wrote on X, which used to be Twitter.
Concerns About Trump’s Safety
This is the second time in a few weeks that someone has tried to kill Trump. On July 13, Trump was almost killed during a gathering in Butler, Pennsylvania. A shooter hit him with a bullet, but missed. The attacker was stopped by the Secret Service, but the attack made people look more closely at Trump’s security measures.
A bipartisan task group in the House is keeping a close eye on the new event and has asked the Secret Service for a full report on Sunday’s attempt. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) both said in a joint statement, “We need to understand how this happened and what can be done to stop future threats.”
After what happened in July, the Secret Service was criticised for turning down Trump’s pleas for more security at some events. In the wake of the scandal, Director Kimberly Cheatle quit, putting the agency in a state of change at a very sensitive time.
More security, but not enough resources
Since what happened at the gathering in July, the federal government has increased security around Trump, especially when he goes on public visits. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County, Florida, said that Trump is not as safe now that he is not president.
Bradshaw said, “If he were still president, security would have been all around the golf course.” “But since he’s not, the Secret Service only protects areas they think are very important.” Even so, Bradshaw praised how quickly the agents responded, saying, “Their agent did a fantastic job.”
The attempt on Trump’s life shows how hard it is for the Secret Service and other law enforcement to keep famous people like him safe, especially in a political climate that is becoming more hostile.
As investigations go on and more information comes to light, officials are likely to reevaluate and tighten security measures for Trump’s future public appearances, especially since the 2024 presidential election is coming up soon. When political emotions are high, it’s more important than ever to take strong safety precautions.
