Attempted Assassination of Former President Trump Thwarted in Florida

Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped another assassination attempt on Sunday, September 15, 2024, while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to law enforcement officials, the suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was spotted hiding in nearby bushes with an AK-47-style rifle, approximately 400-500 yards from where Trump was playing.

Secret Service agents quickly intervened after spotting the rifle. A brief altercation followed, with Routh fleeing the scene in a black Nissan, which was later identified and stopped on Interstate 95. Authorities recovered a rifle, a GoPro camera, and ceramic tiles from the suspect's hiding spot, which law enforcement believes were intended to film the attack and provide protection against any return fire. The FBI has confirmed that they are treating this incident as an attempted assassination.

This marks the second assassination attempt against Trump in recent months, following an earlier incident at a rally in Pennsylvania in July. Despite this latest attempt, Trump remained uninjured and released a statement thanking law enforcement for their swift actions, declaring that “nothing will slow me down.”

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attack. Routh, who has a criminal history and political activity on social media, is expected to face state and federal charges. Both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the act of political violence, reaffirming the need for heightened security measures to protect public figures in a politically charged climate.

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