On September 15, 2024, a shocking incident unfolded at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump came to light. A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel protruding from a fence, prompting immediate action. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, has been arrested, raising questions about his motives and mental stability amidst a backdrop of political tensions and social media outbursts.
The FBI has confirmed that it is “investigating what appeared to be an ‘attempted assassination’ on former president Donald Trump” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The incident occurred on Sunday shortly before 2pm local time, when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel sticking through a fence surrounding the resort.
The agent “engaged” with the threat by firing four to six rounds, according to West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. The suspect fled the scene, but was later arrested.
RT reports: The person detained is Ryan Wesley Routh, according to three law enforcement sources, cited by the media. Routh owns a small construction company in Hawaii and had repeatedly criticized Trump on social media.
16 September 202410:07 GMT
The Kremlin has commented on the alleged attempt on Trump’s life.
“This is not really our business. We are, of course, watching closely the information that comes from the United States,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
“We see how tense the situation is there, including between political rivals” he noted, adding that Russia has never “interfered” and is “not interfering now” in the election process in the US.
09:09 GMT
Dozens of social media posts from 2022 of Routh expressing sympathy and support for Ukraine have surfaced. While US security agencies have yet to investigate his exact motives in allegedly targeting Trump, in multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), Routh said he was willing to die in the conflict with Russia.
He also called on his followers to “burn the Kremlin to the ground,” leading to media speculation that the alleged attempt to attack Trump may have been driven by the former president’s position on the Ukraine conflict.
Routh also visited Ukraine in 2022, according to video and photos he made while there. He encouraged foreigners to fight in the conflict through his Facebook account last year.
07:40 GMT
Federal agents probing the apparent assassination attempt on Trump expect that a federal court in South Florida will require “a mental health assessment” of the suspect before any possible criminal proceedings, a law enforcement source has told CNN.
Based on numerous “unusual rants” believed to have been posted by Ryan Wesley Routh online relating to international geopolitical events, the source said federal investigators expect his mental health to be evaluated as part of court proceedings to determine whether he can stand trial.
06:00 GMT
Senior advisor to Donald Trump’s campaign Dan Scavino Jr. has posted a comment from the Republican presidential candidate on X, thanking the public for their “concern and well wishes.” “It was certainly an interesting day!” he added.
Trump thanked the Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office for the “incredible job done.”
FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP… pic.twitter.com/3faAvyHgsR
— Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) September 16, 2024
05:39 GMT
Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has said he is relieved Trump was not injured.
“I’m glad President Trump is safe. 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,” Vance wrote on X.
04:37 GMT
Tech mogul Elon Musk has reacted to the news of yet another attempt on Donald Trump’s life by wondering why “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” in a post on his social media X.
04:23 GMT
Federal agents are conducting a search of a North Carolina residence linked to the detained suspect, named by Ryan Routh in media reports, but still not officially identified by authorities.
04:02 GMT
Vice President Kamala Harris has issued a longer statement condemning political violence and praising the Secret Service agents who thwarted the attempted assassination of her rival.
“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” she said.
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the US Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission,” she added.
03:56 GMT
Donald Trump has praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement agents for doing an “absolutely outstanding” job in keeping him safe.
“It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE,” he wrote in a new post on Truth Social.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes,” he added, stating that he feels “very proud to be an American.”
03:46 GMT
The suspect remained silent while being detained, according to State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, David Aronberg. The official said the suspect had a “rap sheet,” but did not confirm his identity.
“He knew enough to stay silent,” Aronberg told CNN. “He did not apparently speak to officers, he was calm. So, it looked like a person who has done this before, not necessarily this crime, but someone who has had repeated interactions with law enforcement.”
The FBI is actively investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, confirming details about the incident that transpired on September 15. Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect, had a history of vocal anti-Trump sentiments on social media, which has led authorities to consider a mental health assessment as part of the legal proceedings. Reactions from political figures, including Trump himself and Vice President Kamala Harris, have highlighted the serious nature of this event, emphasizing the urgent need to address political violence in the current climate.
