On Sunday, Donald Trump was rushed to safety after what the FBI called an apparent assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf course in Florida. The incident took place while Trump was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club, located about 15 minutes from his Mar-a-Lago residence. Secret Service agents spotted the muzzle of a rifle—later identified as an SKS-pattern rifle—sticking out of the bushes as they conducted a routine security sweep of the course, typically staying one hole ahead of Trump and his group.
The suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, had been camped near the golf course for around 12 hours before the incident. Secret Service agents, who were about 300-500 yards away from Trump at the time, immediately engaged the suspect. Routh fled the scene without firing his weapon, leaving behind the rifle, two bags, a rifle scope, and a GoPro camera. Agents fired four to five shots when they saw the gun, but the suspect was not injured and managed to escape in a black Nissan SUV, which was later determined to have stolen license plates.
A civilian witness captured a photo of the vehicle and reported it to law enforcement, which led to Routh’s arrest about 61 kilometers away, in Martin County. Routh, who has a long criminal history dating back to the 1990s, including a 2002 conviction for possession of a fully automatic machine gun, was charged with firearm-related offenses. He had also previously been reported to the FBI in 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Additionally, Routh had a history of attempting to volunteer for Ukraine’s foreign fighter legion after Russia’s invasion, but he was never officially accepted.
Trump, who was not injured during the incident, issued a statement assuring his supporters that he was safe. He later gave a detailed account of the event to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, explaining that he heard gunshots and was quickly evacuated by the Secret Service to a reinforced vehicle. Trump expressed his gratitude for the swift actions of his security team, crediting them with keeping him safe.
Politically, Trump sought to blame President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for fostering a climate of political rhetoric that, according to him, contributed to the assassination attempt. He criticized them for their speeches on threats to democracy, stating that such rhetoric was putting his life in danger. Trump also referenced a previous assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, during which a gunman opened fire at a rally, leaving Trump with minor injuries and killing a bystander.
In response, Harris expressed deep concern over the attempt on Trump’s life, while the Biden administration confirmed that both Biden and Harris had been briefed on the incident. Trump also stated that Biden had called him to express relief that he was unharmed, and the two reportedly had a cordial conversation. Meanwhile, Trump supporters gathered at Mar-a-Lago and the golf club to show solidarity, waving “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) banners and American flags.
Routh, who appeared in court on Monday for a brief hearing, did not enter a plea. He faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obstructed serial number, charges that could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The FBI is now leading the investigation into the incident, and Routh is expected to return to court for further proceedings next week.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about political violence in the U.S., and bipartisan leaders have expressed concern over the rising threats against political figures. A congressional task force set up after the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania is requesting a briefing with the Secret Service on the growing security challenges surrounding high-profile political figures like Trump.
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