Donald Trump Targeted in Second Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump has narrowly dodged another bullet after an apparent second assassination attempt outside his Florida golf course. The Standard has this report:

There were shots fired outside the course, law enforcement sources said. Trump’s campaign had earlier said he was safe following gunshots in his vicinity but gave no details.

U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire after seeing a person with a firearm near the golf club as the former President golfed, according to local media reports.

The person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended in a nearby county by local police.

An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene near Trump’s golf course, according to reports.

The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he played.

The suspect appeared to push the muzzle of the rifle through the fence line when agents fired, unnamed law enforcement officials told U.S. media.

A police official said officials were trying to determine whether the shots were fired near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course or on the grounds.

A witness, Max Egusquiza, said: “From what I saw five black unmarked SUVs blocked in a grey Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more cop cars flying from nearby streets.”

Newsweek carries more details on the would-be Trump assassin:

The suspect was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, aged 58, officials told the Associated Press.

CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller reported Sunday afternoon that Routh’s social media accounts have focused on his “self-proclaimed involvement” in the war in Ukraine, including his supposed effort to recruit soldiers to fight in the conflict. Routh also claimed to have fought in Ukraine as it continues to hold off Russia’s invasion.

Miller said that Routh has been living in Hawaii and was formerly a construction worker in North Carolina. The suspect has also reportedly been previously arrested eight times, mostly for minor offenses.

Routh appears to have previously spoken with the New York Times about his effort to recruit Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight in Ukraine. At the time of the report, which was published on March 25th, 2023, Routh told the Times that he had spent several months in Ukraine in 2022.

A Semafor report published on March 10th, 2023, cited Routh as the head of the International Volunteer Center (IVC) in Ukraine, a private organisation that works to “empower volunteers” and other non-profit groups that work to “enhance the distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Ukraine”, according to the IVC’s website.

In a June 2022 interview with Newsweek Romania, Routh spoke about his efforts to recruit volunteers for the International Legion Defense of Ukraine, a unit of Ukraine’s Ground Forces.

“The question as far as why I’m here – to me, a lot of the other conflicts are grey, but this conflict is definitely black and white,” Routh said. “This is about good versus evil. This is a storybook, you know, any movie we’ve ever watched, this is definitely evil against good.”

The Associated Press previously reported that Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, per online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records, but could not provide details about the case.

A December 2002 story by News & Record in Greensboro, North Carolina, said that a man with the same name was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police.

Routh was reportedly charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon of mass destruction, “referring to a fully automatic machine gun”.

Trump has been vocal about his scepticism of providing military arms to Ukraine, inspiring his party to block essential military funding to the country for months earlier this year.

The Guardian has gathered reactions from family and political figures across the political spectrum about the incident:

The White House said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had been briefed on the incident. “They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” a statement read.

The Vice-President said in her own statement on X: “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”

Trump’s family also reacted.

“My father is running out of lives here,” son Eric Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity. “How many more rifles are going to come within assassination distance of my father?”

In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”

“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” the former President added.

In an X post, the South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s top congressional allies, said he had spoken with the former President after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known”. …

Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, said in a statement: “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.”

Worth reading in full.

Stop Press: AP has the full news conference with local law enforcement and the FBI discussing the latest attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump.

Stop Press 2: The Mail has more on Trump’s would-be assassin.