Quick Hit:
In a brief statement released Sunday afternoon, the Trump campaign confirmed that "President Trump is safe" after U.S. Secret Service engaged with a potential assassin while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Key Details:
A man armed with an AK-style rifle reportedly approached the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Course, causing Secret Service agents to fire at the suspect, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with the Associated Press.
The suspect, a white male in his mid-60s, according to Florida State Rep. John Snyder, dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV before being apprehended in neighboring Martin County along I-95.
The FBI issued a statement confirming they are investigating the incident as "an attempted assassination of former President Trump."
Diving Deeper:
The Trump campaign released a statement Sunday confirming that former President Donald Trump is "safe" after U.S. Secret Service engaged with a potential assassin while he was golfing at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. In the full statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung stated, "President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time."
According to multiple law enforcement officials speaking with the Associated Press, a man armed with an AK-style rifle pushed the muzzle of the weapon through the perimeter of Trump International Golf Course as Trump was playing a round of golf. U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire in response, prompting the suspect to drop the weapon and flee the scene in an SUV. The individual was later apprehended in neighboring Martin County, confirmed by State Representative John Snyder on X (formerly Twitter), whose father serves as Sheriff of Martin County.
In his posts, Snyder stated: “Can confirm alleged shooter is in the custody of @MartinFLSheriff after deputies took the vehicle down on I-95.” In a follow-up post approximately thirty minutes later, Snyder added: “The suspect in custody related to the #Trump shooting incident is a white male, in his mid 60’s.”
The FBI confirmed their involvement in the investigation, telling press outlets, "The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach, Florida, and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump."
This latest incident occurred almost exactly two months after the July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where an assassination attempt left Trump with a minor wound to his ear. The shooter, who fired from an elevated position, was neutralized by Secret Service agents on-site.
At this time, further information about Sunday’s shooting has not been released, and the investigation is ongoing. Updates are expected as authorities continue to gather details.