FBI investigates incident in Florida as 'an attempted assassination' on Trump
The ex-president emerged unscathed.
TroibNews 
Federal authorities are looking into an incident at Donald Trump’s Florida golf club on Sunday that “appears to be an attempted assassination,” marking what could be a second attempt on the former president’s life in approximately two months.
According to a spokesperson for the Secret Service, agents “opened fire on a gunman located near the property line” of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, while noting they were “unsure whether the individual,” now in custody, “was able to take a shot at our agents.” At the time of the incident, Trump was golfing and remained unharmed.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that a Secret Service agent noticed the suspect with a rifle protruding from the fence of the golf course and promptly fired at him before he escaped the scene. Trump was reportedly 300 to 500 yards away from the gunman, according to Bradshaw.
Later, law enforcement discovered an “AK-47 style rifle” with a scope hidden in the bushes. They also located two backpacks containing ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera hanging from a chain-link fence, with Bradshaw indicating that the suspect was “intent on filming what was going on.”
A witness reportedly saw the suspect escaping in a black Nissan and took photographs of the vehicle and its license plate. Authorities later apprehended the suspect on Interstate 95 in nearby Martin County.
The FBI confirmed in a statement that it is “investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.” Bradshaw indicated that the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., and the Palm Beach County state attorney is pursuing warrants against the suspect.
Less than an hour after the event, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung stated that the former president is “safe following gunshots in his vicinity.” Following the shooting, Trump was relocated inside the golf club.
When questioned about how the security breach occurred, Bradshaw pointed out that Trump “is not the sitting president right now,” and explained that security measures are not as stringent as they would be for an active president. “If he was, we would have had the entire higher golf course surrounded,” he noted. "But because he's not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.”
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were “briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing,” according to a White House spokesperson. They expressed relief upon learning that he is safe and indicated they would receive regular updates.
The Trump campaign, located in West Palm Beach, was reportedly placed on lockdown. The Trump International Golf Club also underwent lockdown procedures following the incident.
In an email to campaign staffers, senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles advised them to “remain vigilant” in their “daily comings and goings.”
“President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” the email read.
This shooting incident occurred just 64 days after Trump survived an assassination attempt during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Prior to this latest event, individuals close to the former president had expressed growing concerns regarding his safety while at the golf course, given that the boundaries of his clubs in Florida and New Jersey, although not open to the public, can be partially viewed from outside.
Fox News host Sean Hannity reported that he spoke with Trump following the incident, during which the former president revealed he was on the fifth hole of the course with friend and donor Steve Witkoff. “They heard, ‘Pop-pop, pop-pop,’” Hannity recounted. “Within seconds, the Secret Service pounced on the president, covered him. You had snipers with tripods — they knew the direction the shots had been fired, and they had eyes on the location the shots had been fired.”
According to Hannity, Secret Service agents “whisked the president away” in an armored vehicle. Trump confirmed that an AK-47 was recovered and noted that one individual had entered a car after abandoning the firearm. He was then taken to the clubhouse, followed by others who were on the golf course.
“I really wanted to finish the hole. I was even [par], and I had a birdie putt,” Trump humorously remarked afterward, as reported by Hannity.
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, indicated on X that he spoke with Trump before the details became public and remarked that the former president “was, amazingly, in good spirits” and that “there is still much we don't know.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned in a post on X that he had conversed with Trump, stating that he “is in good spirits and he is more resolved than ever to save our country.”
The incident drew widespread condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats regarding political violence. “I can’t believe I’m having to say this once again this election cycle: there is absolutely no place for violence in politics,” remarked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on X. “Grateful for all law enforcement involved who stopped what could’ve been a catastrophe.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, a political adversary of Trump who led his first impeachment proceedings, emphasized on X: “This madness has got to stop. Violence is not the answer to our political differences.”
Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to a spokesperson for the Secret Service, agents “opened fire on a gunman located near the property line” of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, while noting they were “unsure whether the individual,” now in custody, “was able to take a shot at our agents.” At the time of the incident, Trump was golfing and remained unharmed.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that a Secret Service agent noticed the suspect with a rifle protruding from the fence of the golf course and promptly fired at him before he escaped the scene. Trump was reportedly 300 to 500 yards away from the gunman, according to Bradshaw.
Later, law enforcement discovered an “AK-47 style rifle” with a scope hidden in the bushes. They also located two backpacks containing ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera hanging from a chain-link fence, with Bradshaw indicating that the suspect was “intent on filming what was going on.”
A witness reportedly saw the suspect escaping in a black Nissan and took photographs of the vehicle and its license plate. Authorities later apprehended the suspect on Interstate 95 in nearby Martin County.
The FBI confirmed in a statement that it is “investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.” Bradshaw indicated that the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., and the Palm Beach County state attorney is pursuing warrants against the suspect.
Less than an hour after the event, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung stated that the former president is “safe following gunshots in his vicinity.” Following the shooting, Trump was relocated inside the golf club.
When questioned about how the security breach occurred, Bradshaw pointed out that Trump “is not the sitting president right now,” and explained that security measures are not as stringent as they would be for an active president. “If he was, we would have had the entire higher golf course surrounded,” he noted. "But because he's not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.”
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were “briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing,” according to a White House spokesperson. They expressed relief upon learning that he is safe and indicated they would receive regular updates.
The Trump campaign, located in West Palm Beach, was reportedly placed on lockdown. The Trump International Golf Club also underwent lockdown procedures following the incident.
In an email to campaign staffers, senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles advised them to “remain vigilant” in their “daily comings and goings.”
“President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” the email read.
This shooting incident occurred just 64 days after Trump survived an assassination attempt during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Prior to this latest event, individuals close to the former president had expressed growing concerns regarding his safety while at the golf course, given that the boundaries of his clubs in Florida and New Jersey, although not open to the public, can be partially viewed from outside.
Fox News host Sean Hannity reported that he spoke with Trump following the incident, during which the former president revealed he was on the fifth hole of the course with friend and donor Steve Witkoff. “They heard, ‘Pop-pop, pop-pop,’” Hannity recounted. “Within seconds, the Secret Service pounced on the president, covered him. You had snipers with tripods — they knew the direction the shots had been fired, and they had eyes on the location the shots had been fired.”
According to Hannity, Secret Service agents “whisked the president away” in an armored vehicle. Trump confirmed that an AK-47 was recovered and noted that one individual had entered a car after abandoning the firearm. He was then taken to the clubhouse, followed by others who were on the golf course.
“I really wanted to finish the hole. I was even [par], and I had a birdie putt,” Trump humorously remarked afterward, as reported by Hannity.
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, indicated on X that he spoke with Trump before the details became public and remarked that the former president “was, amazingly, in good spirits” and that “there is still much we don't know.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned in a post on X that he had conversed with Trump, stating that he “is in good spirits and he is more resolved than ever to save our country.”
The incident drew widespread condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats regarding political violence. “I can’t believe I’m having to say this once again this election cycle: there is absolutely no place for violence in politics,” remarked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on X. “Grateful for all law enforcement involved who stopped what could’ve been a catastrophe.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, a political adversary of Trump who led his first impeachment proceedings, emphasized on X: “This madness has got to stop. Violence is not the answer to our political differences.”
Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
