Secret Service praised Trump's defense as ‘exemplary,’ yet doubts linger
The county sheriff stated, “What we did yesterday proves the system can work.”
TroibNews 
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — On Monday, the Secret Service defended its protective plan for former President Donald Trump, describing it as “textbook” and “exemplary” following the successful prevention of a potential assassination attempt over the weekend.
Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. stated during a press conference at the county sheriff’s office in West Palm Beach, "The Secret Service's protective methodologies work, and they are sound and we saw that yesterday." He noted that an agent on-site fired “immediately” at the suspect upon seeing the weapon, highlighting the agency’s “hypervigilance.” Rowe added that the suspect did not have a clear line of sight to Trump and was unable to take any shots at the agents who were sweeping the area.
The same day, the suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, faced charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He made a brief appearance in federal court in West Palm Beach, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe ordered him held without bond until a detention hearing scheduled for September 23.
Authorities reported that Routh left a semi-automatic rifle at the scene, suggesting that he had been waiting for Trump outside his golf course near Mar-a-Lago for nearly 12 hours. Rowe explained that the area had not been pre-checked because Trump’s visit was not part of his official schedule and was treated as “off the record movement,” prompting the security team to implement a plan described as a “layered approach.”
"There was no posting up of this because he wasn't supposed to be there,” Rowe explained, referencing the Secret Service's strategy of positioning agents in advance.
Despite the incident, Rowe acknowledged the need for the agency to shift from a “reactive model” to a “readiness model,” and mentioned discussions with Congress regarding additional resources. He observed that many large events since a previous assassination attempt against Trump had been secure, including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, along with visits by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a presidential debate in Philadelphia.
Rowe pointed out that the demanding nature of work following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania in July had strained his agents. “The men and women of the Secret Service — we are redlining them, and they are rising to this moment,” he noted, adding, “The Secret Service operates under a paradox: zero-fail mission, but also that we have done more with less for decades."
Officials affirmed that Routh did not have any direct view of Trump, but specifics about Trump's proximity to Routh remained unclear. Rowe indicated that Trump was “several hundred yards and several holes away” from the suspect, who had concealed himself near the sixth green while Trump was on the fifth fairway. “The subject, who did not have line of sight to the former president, fled the scene,” Rowe stated. “He did not fire or get off any shots at our agents.”
Following the incident, Rowe noted that the level of Secret Service protection at Mar-a-Lago had been elevated to near the standards enforced during Trump’s presidency. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County confirmed the security level was at its highest. He spoke with Trump on Sunday night, reassuring that he “feels safe.”
“That’s important, because he is,” Bradshaw said, emphasizing the effectiveness of their response. “And what we did yesterday proves the system can work because he didn’t even get close to getting a round off.”
Investigators are still working to determine when Routh arrived in Florida and whether he acted alone. Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the FBI Miami Field Office, disclosed that Routh was previously the subject of a closed 2019 tip regarding his possession of a firearm, but the information was not verified at the time.
Routh requested an attorney when approached by the FBI, and authorities have secured warrants for his cell phone, vehicle, and electronics, reviewing his internet and social media activity along with his interviews discussing recruitment efforts for Afghan soldiers and others to support Ukraine. They have also conducted interviews with civilian witnesses present at the scene and are in the process of speaking to Routh's acquaintances.
Following a shooting incident in Pennsylvania in July, which grazed Trump’s ear and resulted in an audience member's death, public sentiment initially praised the Secret Service for their rapid response. However, subsequent critique surrounded failures to secure the shooter’s vantage point and communication breakdowns amid the crisis, leading to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following a contentious House hearing.
Kimberly Leonard reported from West Palm Beach, while Josh Gerstein contributed from Washington, D.C.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. stated during a press conference at the county sheriff’s office in West Palm Beach, "The Secret Service's protective methodologies work, and they are sound and we saw that yesterday." He noted that an agent on-site fired “immediately” at the suspect upon seeing the weapon, highlighting the agency’s “hypervigilance.” Rowe added that the suspect did not have a clear line of sight to Trump and was unable to take any shots at the agents who were sweeping the area.
The same day, the suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, faced charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He made a brief appearance in federal court in West Palm Beach, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe ordered him held without bond until a detention hearing scheduled for September 23.
Authorities reported that Routh left a semi-automatic rifle at the scene, suggesting that he had been waiting for Trump outside his golf course near Mar-a-Lago for nearly 12 hours. Rowe explained that the area had not been pre-checked because Trump’s visit was not part of his official schedule and was treated as “off the record movement,” prompting the security team to implement a plan described as a “layered approach.”
"There was no posting up of this because he wasn't supposed to be there,” Rowe explained, referencing the Secret Service's strategy of positioning agents in advance.
Despite the incident, Rowe acknowledged the need for the agency to shift from a “reactive model” to a “readiness model,” and mentioned discussions with Congress regarding additional resources. He observed that many large events since a previous assassination attempt against Trump had been secure, including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, along with visits by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a presidential debate in Philadelphia.
Rowe pointed out that the demanding nature of work following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania in July had strained his agents. “The men and women of the Secret Service — we are redlining them, and they are rising to this moment,” he noted, adding, “The Secret Service operates under a paradox: zero-fail mission, but also that we have done more with less for decades."
Officials affirmed that Routh did not have any direct view of Trump, but specifics about Trump's proximity to Routh remained unclear. Rowe indicated that Trump was “several hundred yards and several holes away” from the suspect, who had concealed himself near the sixth green while Trump was on the fifth fairway. “The subject, who did not have line of sight to the former president, fled the scene,” Rowe stated. “He did not fire or get off any shots at our agents.”
Following the incident, Rowe noted that the level of Secret Service protection at Mar-a-Lago had been elevated to near the standards enforced during Trump’s presidency. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County confirmed the security level was at its highest. He spoke with Trump on Sunday night, reassuring that he “feels safe.”
“That’s important, because he is,” Bradshaw said, emphasizing the effectiveness of their response. “And what we did yesterday proves the system can work because he didn’t even get close to getting a round off.”
Investigators are still working to determine when Routh arrived in Florida and whether he acted alone. Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the FBI Miami Field Office, disclosed that Routh was previously the subject of a closed 2019 tip regarding his possession of a firearm, but the information was not verified at the time.
Routh requested an attorney when approached by the FBI, and authorities have secured warrants for his cell phone, vehicle, and electronics, reviewing his internet and social media activity along with his interviews discussing recruitment efforts for Afghan soldiers and others to support Ukraine. They have also conducted interviews with civilian witnesses present at the scene and are in the process of speaking to Routh's acquaintances.
Following a shooting incident in Pennsylvania in July, which grazed Trump’s ear and resulted in an audience member's death, public sentiment initially praised the Secret Service for their rapid response. However, subsequent critique surrounded failures to secure the shooter’s vantage point and communication breakdowns amid the crisis, leading to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following a contentious House hearing.
Kimberly Leonard reported from West Palm Beach, while Josh Gerstein contributed from Washington, D.C.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
