Donald Trump has narrowly dodged another bullet after an apparent second assassination attempt outside his Florida golf course. The Standard has this report:
There were shots fired outside the course, law enforcement sources said. Trump’s campaign had earlier said he was safe following gunshots in his vicinity but gave no details.
U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire after seeing a person with a firearm near the golf club as the former President golfed, according to local media reports.
The person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended in a nearby county by local police.
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene near Trump’s golf course, according to reports.
The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he played.
The suspect appeared to push the muzzle of the rifle through the fence line when agents fired, unnamed law enforcement officials told U.S. media.
A police official said officials were trying to determine whether the shots were fired near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course or on the grounds.
A witness, Max Egusquiza, said: “From what I saw five black unmarked SUVs blocked in a grey Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more cop cars flying from nearby streets.”
Newsweek carries more details on the would-be Trump assassin:
The suspect was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, aged 58, officials told the Associated Press.
CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller reported Sunday afternoon that Routh’s social media accounts have focused on his “self-proclaimed involvement” in the war in Ukraine, including his supposed effort to recruit soldiers to fight in the conflict. Routh also claimed to have fought in Ukraine as it continues to hold off Russia’s invasion.
Miller said that Routh has been living in Hawaii and was formerly a construction worker in North Carolina. The suspect has also reportedly been previously arrested eight times, mostly for minor offenses.
Routh appears to have previously spoken with the New York Times about his effort to recruit Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight in Ukraine. At the time of the report, which was published on March 25th, 2023, Routh told the Times that he had spent several months in Ukraine in 2022.
A Semafor report published on March 10th, 2023, cited Routh as the head of the International Volunteer Center (IVC) in Ukraine, a private organisation that works to “empower volunteers” and other non-profit groups that work to “enhance the distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Ukraine”, according to the IVC’s website.
In a June 2022 interview with Newsweek Romania, Routh spoke about his efforts to recruit volunteers for the International Legion Defense of Ukraine, a unit of Ukraine’s Ground Forces.
“The question as far as why I’m here – to me, a lot of the other conflicts are grey, but this conflict is definitely black and white,” Routh said. “This is about good versus evil. This is a storybook, you know, any movie we’ve ever watched, this is definitely evil against good.”
The Associated Press previously reported that Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, per online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records, but could not provide details about the case.
A December 2002 story by News & Record in Greensboro, North Carolina, said that a man with the same name was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police.
Routh was reportedly charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon of mass destruction, “referring to a fully automatic machine gun”.
Trump has been vocal about his scepticism of providing military arms to Ukraine, inspiring his party to block essential military funding to the country for months earlier this year.
The Guardian has gathered reactions from family and political figures across the political spectrum about the incident:
The White House said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had been briefed on the incident. “They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” a statement read.
The Vice-President said in her own statement on X: “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
Trump’s family also reacted.
“My father is running out of lives here,” son Eric Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity. “How many more rifles are going to come within assassination distance of my father?”
In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” the former President added.
In an X post, the South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s top congressional allies, said he had spoken with the former President after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known”. …
Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, said in a statement: “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
Stop Press: AP has the full news conference with local law enforcement and the FBI discussing the latest attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump.
Stop Press 2: The Mail has more on Trump’s would-be assassin.
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I haven’t come a pub yet that is serious about the QR code stuff. Most are just going through the motions and are not strict about it. People either pretend to use it or just don’t bother.
Dave Angel Eco Warrier
3 years ago
My favourite pub is open but it has a flat, sterile atmosphere as if drinking in a shop storeroom. Mask wearing is depressingly ahered to by the regulars (not me) even if taking just three steps to and from the main door. That the landlady goes about without a mask herself does not seem register with my fellow drinkers. I find it perplexing.
Yes. Entirely correct. The pandemic itself has caused few problems in the greater scheme of things. The hysterical overreaction, both by government and a pliant public, has caused the damage.
The government wants to engineer a situation where vaccinated people can mix as they please and therefore any difficulties economically can be blamed on those who won’t submit.
We were in LONDON for the anti Lockdown demo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stand in South Hill Park Bracknell every Sunday 10am meet fellow lockdown sceptics
Join our Telegram Group: t.me/astandintheparkbracknell
Clancloch
3 years ago
To be honest I don’t have that much sympathy. A lot of them have happily gone along with these absurd measures – what do they expect.
Part of the grand plan to crush the spirit of Brits by destroying whee we meet, where we worship, families, relationships, small businesses.
Hancocks has gone. Johnson and Gove next.
Enough is enough.
donald
3 years ago
I will never comfortable in a pub – not until I can simply walk in, go to the bar, and get myself a drink. (And I promise not, unlike the Health Secretary, to get caught having a emotional rendezvous with a member of the bar staff in the cellar.)
It’s like watching Whales trapped on a sand bar, refusing to help themselves and go back into the sea! I just don’t care about these businesses any more, they have had fifteen months to register all the facts, if they can’t help themselves so be it. I only go to pubs where I can sit in an outside space, be served, end of. I don’t go anywhere where masks are put on for standing up etc…totally demented. Just frickin open, take the chance, advertise, block the courts up, be dammed if you lose your licence, get together and protest, just DO something!
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I don’t go to the gulag pubs where you have recite your ID number before you can get a drink
We have our own freedom pub
Sadly not found such a pub yet where I live so they are all closed to me
I haven’t come a pub yet that is serious about the QR code stuff. Most are just going through the motions and are not strict about it. People either pretend to use it or just don’t bother.
My favourite pub is open but it has a flat, sterile atmosphere as if drinking in a shop storeroom. Mask wearing is depressingly ahered to by the regulars (not me) even if taking just three steps to and from the main door. That the landlady goes about without a mask herself does not seem register with my fellow drinkers. I find it perplexing.
Why do we continually refer to ‘as a result of the pandemic’ when it is a result of government policy – plain and simple – right?
Totally agree. I am forever correcting people on that one.
Yes. Entirely correct. The pandemic itself has caused few problems in the greater scheme of things. The hysterical overreaction, both by government and a pliant public, has caused the damage.
The government wants to engineer a situation where vaccinated people can mix as they please and therefore any difficulties economically can be blamed on those who won’t submit.
We were in LONDON for the anti Lockdown demo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stand in South Hill Park Bracknell every Sunday 10am meet fellow lockdown sceptics
Join our Telegram Group: t.me/astandintheparkbracknell
To be honest I don’t have that much sympathy. A lot of them have happily gone along with these absurd measures – what do they expect.
Part of the grand plan to crush the spirit of Brits by destroying whee we meet, where we worship, families, relationships, small businesses.
Hancocks has gone. Johnson and Gove next.
Enough is enough.
I will never comfortable in a pub – not until I can simply walk in, go to the bar, and get myself a drink. (And I promise not, unlike the Health Secretary, to get caught having a emotional rendezvous with a member of the bar staff in the cellar.)
I will never [feel] comfortable in a pub…
The working class must be crushed by the WOKEing class
It’s like watching Whales trapped on a sand bar, refusing to help themselves and go back into the sea! I just don’t care about these businesses any more, they have had fifteen months to register all the facts, if they can’t help themselves so be it. I only go to pubs where I can sit in an outside space, be served, end of. I don’t go anywhere where masks are put on for standing up etc…totally demented. Just frickin open, take the chance, advertise, block the courts up, be dammed if you lose your licence, get together and protest, just DO something!