The FBI is investigating a firearms incident outside of Donald Trump’s golf course in Florida on Sunday as a new assassination attempt against Trump, the former U.S. President and Republican candidate for the 2024 Presidential Elections.
Trump was reported safe by his campaign shortly after the incident, while the FBI later commented in a statement that it “has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former president Trump”.
A media briefing would follow with more details later on Sunday, according to Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service.
“I am safe and well!,” Trump wrote in a statement released by his campaign on Sunday following the news of the incident. “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender. I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again,” he concluded.
Gunshots fired “in the vicinity” of Donald Trump
Shots were fired at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday where Trump was golfing.
CBS News reports that Secret Service agents saw a man pointing a rifle at the golf course and they fired multiple times at the suspect, who tried to run away. The suspect is reportedly in custody and a weapon has been recovered.
Sources told the CNN that Trump was moving between holes five and six when the incident happened, golfing with donor Steve Witkoff. The suspect who the Secret Service engaged with was a number of holes ahead of the former president.
“The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 p.m. The former president is safe,” Guglielmi wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Trump assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July
The September 15 incident comes less than two months after an attempted assassination of former President Trump in Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump was shot and rushed off the stage after multiple gunshots were heard as he spoke at his campaign rally on July 13.
The shooting, which occurred around 6:15 PM local time, left the former president with an injury to his right ear and tragically resulted in the death of one attendee of the rally and critical injuries to two other individuals who were nearby to watch the speech.
The shooter was neutralised and fell dead at the scene.
FBI named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania as the perpetrator of the shooting, hours after the incident.
