Family and political figures from both ends of the political spectrum expressed shock as details emerged of an apparent attempted assassination attempt of Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.
Secret Service agents opened fire during the incident after spotting a man hiding in bushes with an AK-47-style rifle a few hundred yards from Trump as he was playing golf. The agents then opened fire, prompting the man to flee. A suspect was later arrested and a weapon, a scope and a GoPro camera were recovered.
Trump was previously lightly injured after a gunman opened fire on him at Pennsylvania rally two months ago. But amid widespread fears of civil unrest in America’s bitter election, the reaction across the political spectrum to a second possible attack was instant.
The White House said the President Joe Biden and Vice-President 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.
Harris 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’ 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 rumors start spiraling 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 said.
In an X post, the South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s top congressional allies, said he had spoken with Trump after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known”.
The Martin county sheriff’s office said a suspect “believed to be connected to a shooting incident at Trump International in Palm Beach County” had been apprehended after fleeing the scene.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity,” said Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, in a statement. Cheung gave no further details.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator JD 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.”
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the suspect appeared “calm” when he was arrested by police after fleeing the scene. He had been confronted by Secret Service after being spotted with a rifle and fired upon, Bradshaw said.
“The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 p.m. The former president is safe. @pbso will have more details soon,” stated a posting on X, formerly Twitter, by Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service.
The latest incident comes less than two months after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a political rally. One rally-goer was killed and law enforcement officials returned fire, killing the suspected attacker. No clear political motive for the attack has been identified. Trump was grazed by a bullet in the ear and an image of the bloodied president raising a fist in the air after the shooting has been widely spread by his supporters.
An internal Secret Service investigation has confirmed that multiple, substantial communication breakdowns preceded the 13 July attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, the Washington Post, citing unnamed officials, reported that the former president’s security detail failed to direct local police to secure the roof of the building used by the gunman.
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