Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt on Sunday in Florida, the FBI confirmed, but the Republican presidential candidate remains safe and unharmed, according to his campaign and law enforcement.
The US Secret Service reported that one or more agents “opened fire on a gunman” near the boundary of Trump’s golf course. An “AK-47 style rifle” with a scope and a GoPro video camera were recovered at the scene.
During the confrontation, the suspect emerged from the shrubbery where he had been hiding and fled in a black car. A witness helped police identify the vehicle, which authorities subsequently tracked down.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw announced, “We have someone in custody who is a potential suspect.”
Trump was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence, when the would-be shooter was spotted in the bushes one hole ahead of him, according to Sheriff Bradshaw.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung confirmed. Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris also expressed relief, stating she was glad her political rival was unharmed.
Trump reassured his supporters in a fundraising message: “Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!”
This marks the second apparent assassination attempt against Trump in two months. On July 13, Trump was wounded in the ear while addressing an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Shooting
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the gunman actually fired a shot at Trump, though Secret Service agents did fire in response. “We are not sure if the individual managed to take a shot at our agents,” said Rafael Barros of the Secret Service.
The FBI is investigating what they describe as an “attempted assassination of former President Trump.”
Sheriff Bradshaw praised the quick actions of the Secret Service, who spotted the rifle barrel protruding from the fence and engaged the suspect. He estimated the suspect was positioned 300 to 500 yards away but noted that, with such a weapon, the distance was not significant.
Neighboring Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, speaking to CNN, noted that the suspect, now in custody, showed “a relatively calm demeanor, without much emotion.”
Political Tensions and Responses
The incident has heightened concerns as the presidential race intensifies. President Joe Biden condemned the attempted violence, stating, “There is no place for political violence in our country.” He also assured that the Secret Service would continue to receive every resource needed to protect Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed these sentiments, expressing her relief that Trump was safe. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, voiced his support, saying he had spoken to Trump before the news broke and found him in good spirits despite the incident.
The Secret Service has faced criticism for its handling of a previous assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Several agents were placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s head, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned following the scrutiny.
Representative Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking Republican in the US House, raised concerns about the latest incident. “We must ask how an assassin was allowed to get this close to President Trump again,” she said, calling for clear answers regarding the attempts on Trump’s life in both Pennsylvania and Florida.
Source: AFP
