Second assassination attempt against former President Trump in two months

This afternoon at 1:30 pm EST, the U.S. Secret Service thwarted an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump while he golfed on his course in West Palm Beach Florida.

Agents on the protective detail spotted a man behind a chain link fence about 400 yards from where President Trump was on the course. They recognized the man had a rifle with a scope pointed onto the course, and quickly engaged the suspect, shooting at him at least four times. The shots prevented the suspect from taking any shots and forced him to flee to his car. The suspect left behind the rifle, a go-pro camera, and ceramic ballistic panels attached to the fence as an apparent defensive measure. The suspect fled in a black Nissan and was stopped and taken into custody on the freeway.

Media sources have identified the suspect as Ryan Routh, 58, of Hawaii. Routh’s social media accounts reportedly reflect an obsession with the conflict in Ukraine, including his attempts to support and participate in the “Ukrainian Foreign Legion.”

The incident is the second attempt in two months to assassinate former President Trump during his campaign as the Republican Party’s candidate for the Presidency. It represents an unprecedented level of violence towards a Presidential candidate and reflects the dehumanizing rhetoric that many on the left have fostered against Trump during the campaign — regularly labeling him and his supporters as “existential threats” to democracy and the country.

His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement, which read, “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.”

Reporting on this incident is in the preliminary stages. We will continue to follow and offer analysis when and where appropriate.