Donald Trump safe after suspected assassination attempt at Florida Golf course

New Delhi, Sep16: Former United States President Donald Trump was safe after an assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club, Florida where he was present on Sunday.

President Donald Trump has assured supporters he is "safe and well" following what the FBI describes as a potential assassination attempt at his golf course in Florida.

The incident took place at Trump International Golf Club on Sunday, where law enforcement officials said shots were fired, prompting a swift response from the Secret Service.

According to CNN, a Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of an AK-47-style weapon protruding from bushes near the course and engaged the suspect.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, fled the scene in a black Nissan but was later apprehended on the I-95 highway. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed that Routh, believed to be in his late 50s, had set up in the shrubbery near the fifth and sixth holes, allowing him a line of sight across the golf course.

Authorities discovered a rifle, backpacks, a GoPro camera, and other equipment hidden in the bushes. "The suspect was about 300 to 500 yards away from Trump when spotted," a Secret Service official said as reported by BBC. Trump was unharmed during the ordeal, with Secret Service agents positioned a hole or two ahead of him at the time.

The FBI is treating the case as an "attempted assassination" on the former president. Law enforcement sources told CNN that Routh is in custody and is currently under investigation for his involvement in the incident.

A BBC report revealed that Routh has an extensive social media presence, including posts that signal support for foreign fighters in Ukraine and criticism of Trump's stance on the war. "We are still trying to get Ukraine to accept Afghan soldiers and hope to have some answers in the coming months," read one of Routh’s Facebook posts from July. The BBC also noted Routh's profile contains pro-Palestinian, pro-Taiwan, and anti-China rhetoric, with several posts referencing conspiracy theories related to Covid-19 and Chinese “biological warfare.”

Following the arrest, Sheriff Bradshaw outlined that Routh had been positioned near a stretch of thick shrubbery running along Congress Avenue, providing him with cover. Law authorities are still determining how long the suspect had been there before being spotted.

In the aftermath, Trump released a statement through his fundraising website, telling supporters: “FEAR NOT! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God! 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.” His second fundraising email, sent later in the day, emphasised, “My resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life!”

Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the situation and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.

The FBI investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to look into the suspect’s motives and connections the media reported.

This is the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In the first incident, Trump narrowly escaped when a bullet grazed his ear while he was addressing a gathering. Following the close call, he was swiftly moved to a secure location. The assailant was subsequently killed in a retaliatory response by security forces.