The FBI mentioned Sunday it was investigating “what seems to be an tried assassination” of Donald Trump at his golf membership in West Palm Seaside, Florida, simply 9 weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived one other try on his life. Trump mentioned he was secure and nicely.
Palm Seaside County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw mentioned the U.S. Secret Service brokers fired at a person pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope into the membership as Trump was on the course. Bradshaw mentioned the gunman additionally had two backpacks hanging on a fence and a GoPro digital camera, and that he was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery whereas the previous president performed golf on a close-by gap. The individual dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV, and was later taken into custody in a neighboring county.
The incident was the most recent jarring second in a marketing campaign 12 months marked by unprecedented upheaval. It occurred roughly two months after Trump was shot throughout an assassination try at a rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear. Solely every week later, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
In an electronic mail to supporters, Trump mentioned: “There have been gunshots in my neighborhood, however earlier than rumors begin spiraling uncontrolled, I wished you to listen to this primary: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
“Nothing will gradual me down. I’ll NEVER SURRENDER!” the previous president mentioned.
The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he performed, and brokers have been just a few holes forward of him after they observed the individual with the firearm, Bradshaw mentioned. There are a number of areas across the perimeter of the property the place golfers are seen from the fence line. Secret Service brokers and officers in golf carts and on ATVs usually safe the world a number of holes forward and behind Trump when he golfs. Brokers additionally normally convey an armored automobile onto the course to rapidly shelter Trump ought to a menace come up.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that included a Friday night time rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser. His marketing campaign had not suggested Trump’s plans for Sunday. He usually spends the morning enjoying golf, earlier than having lunch on the membership, one in all three he owns within the state.
The previous president has had a stepped-up safety footprint for the reason that assassination try in July. When he has been at Trump Tower in New York, a lineup of dump vans have parked in a wall outdoors the constructing. And at outside rallies, he now speaks from behind an enclosure of bulletproof glass.
Trump was returned safely after the incident to his personal Mar-a-Lago membership, the place he resides in neighboring Palm Seaside, in response to an individual aware of the matter.
The White Home mentioned President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had each been briefed and could be stored up to date on the investigation. The White Home added they have been “relieved” to know Trump is secure.
Harris, in an announcement mentioned she was “glad” Trump was secure, including that “violence has no place in America.”
In an X put up, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, one in all Trump’s high congressional allies, mentioned he had spoken with Trump after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of many strongest individuals I’ve ever identified.”
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder mentioned the suspect was apprehended inside minutes of the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Seaside County Sheriff’s Workplace placing out a “very pressing BOLO” — or “be looking out” alert” detailing the precise automobile sought, license plate quantity and occupant description.
Snyder mentioned his deputies “instantly flooded” northbound I-95, deploying to each exit between the Palm Seaside County line to the south and St. Lucie County line to the north.
“One among my highway patrol models noticed the automobile, matched the tag and we arrange on the automobile,” Snyder mentioned, “We pinched in on the automotive, acquired it safely stopped and acquired the driving force in custody.”
Snyder informed WPTV that the suspect “was not armed after we took him out of the automotive.”
The person had a relaxed, flat demeanor and confirmed little emotion when he was stopped by police, Snyder mentioned, saying the suspect didn’t query why he was being pulled over.
“He by no means requested, ‘what is that this about?’ Clearly, legislation enforcement with lengthy rifles, blue lights, so much occurring. He by no means questioned it,” Snyder mentioned.
Lawyer Common Merrick Garland has been briefed on the state of affairs and is receiving common updates about it, a Justice Division spokeswoman mentioned.
The put up by the Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace indicated the suspect was apprehended close to Palm Metropolis, Florida, a couple of 45-mile drive north of Trump’s golf course. Northbound lanes of I-95 have been shut down, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
A message despatched to marketing campaign officers looking for data on the safety standing and site of Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s operating mate, was not instantly returned.
Max Egusquiza, of Palm Seaside, described the emergency response outdoors Trump’s West Palm Seaside golf course.
“From what I noticed 5 black unmarked SUVs blocked in a gray Mercedes in entrance of the golf course. There have been about 20 or extra cop automobiles flying from close by streets,” he mentioned.
Trump is meant to discuss cryptocurrency reside Monday night time on the social media website X for the launch of his sons’ crypto platform. He’s anticipated to do this from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The previous president is scheduled to return to the marketing campaign path on Tuesday for a city corridor in Flint, Michigan along with his former press secretary, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, adopted by a marketing campaign rally in New York on Lengthy Island on Wednesday.
On the finish of the week, he’s scheduled to attend and tackle the Israeli-American Council Nationwide Summit in Washington, D.C. and on Saturday maintain a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.