The FBI is now investigating a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, this time at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The attempt was announced earlier on Sunday that Trump was safe after shots were fired two holes away from where he was playing.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity,” Trump campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement. “No further details at this time.”
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 15, 2024
Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. later said on his X account that a suspect had been arrested and an AK-47 was found in the bushes.
Later reports said that the shots fired were by a Secret Service agent who spotted suspect Ryan Wesley Routh in the bushes.
Routh had allegedly lain in wait for Trump for 12 hours with food and water.
So far, Routh has been charged with gun crimes, but more serious crimes could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
The new attempt was just over two months after Trump was shot in the ear at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally.
The shot only grazed his ear, but it was less than an inch from a fatal shot to the head. Trump turned his head at the last second and avoided the kill shot.
The new attempt by Routh shows more of a motive, with Routh having posted negatively on Facebook about Trump and expressing a desire to fight the Russians in Ukraine.
Routh donated money to Act Blue, a Democrat super PAC.
Secret Service failures were blamed for the first attempt, while the second attempt was blamed on not being able to see into the bushes where the shooter was hiding.
