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Trump faces new assassination attempt: What you need to know
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Trump faces new assassination attempt: What you need to know

JJust two months after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July at a rally in Pennsylvania, another assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate was foiled by authorities on Sunday at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump was unharmed, and a suspect who fled the scene was arrested. Politicians from all walks of life have condemned the attack, and law enforcement is investigating.

You need to know this.

Hiding in the Bushes: What Happened

While Trump was golfing around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, a Secret Service agent who was one hole ahead of the former president spotted a gun barrel about 300 to 500 yards away, sticking out of bushes along the golf course, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a news conference later Sunday. (For reference, the shooter in July was about 400 feet — about a third of the distance — from Trump.)

As Secret Service personnel opened fire on the gunman hiding in the bushes, Bradshaw said the shooter dropped his weapon and other gear — an “AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks hanging on the fence with ceramic tiles in them, and a GoPro (camera)” — and fled in a vehicle.

It is unclear whether the suspect fired at Secret Service agents during the encounter, a Secret Service representative said at Sunday’s news conference.

A witness reported seeing the suspect flee from the bushes and photographed the vehicle he jumped into. Authorities were able to stop that vehicle on a highway, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post about 3:30 p.m. “We didn’t give him a chance to fight back, we just subdued him, forced him off the road and held him at gunpoint,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters about the arrest at a later news conference, adding that the suspect was unarmed, “relatively calm” and “didn’t show much emotion” when he was taken into custody.

The witness was brought in to confirm that the suspect was the same person who had run away earlier. Authorities have not named the suspect, although anonymous police sources have identified the arrested man to multiple media outlets as Ryan Routh.

Read more: What We Know and Don’t Know So Far About the Trump Golf Course Shooter

‘I will NEVER SURRENDER!’: Trump’s Response

In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were shots fired in my neighborhood, but before the rumors get out of hand, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will stop me. I WILL NEVER GUARD!”

After the incident, Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach vacation home about 4 miles (7 kilometers) from the golf course, the Associated Press reported.

Despite another attempt on his life, Trump was in “good spirits” Sunday night, with Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and his supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), both saying on social media that they had both spoken with the former president.

CBS reported, citing Trump’s friends, family and advisers, that he joked and said he wished he could have finished his round of golf.

Fox News host Sean Hannity said he spoke with Trump’s golfing partner, real estate investor Steve Witkoff, on Sunday. He recalled that Trump went “out of his comfort zone” to express his gratitude to the Secret Service agents on the ground.

Meanwhile, an internal email from Trump’s campaign warned staffers to “remain vigilant,” AP reported. “This is not an issue we take lightly. Your safety is always our top priority,” the email said. “As we enter the final 50 days of President Trump’s campaign, we must remember that the only way we can save America from those who seek to destroy it is by working together as one team.”

In a Truth Social post later Sunday night, Trump said, “I want to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – it has certainly been an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the United States Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and all law enforcement for the incredible work done today at Trump International to keep me, as the 45th President of the United States and the Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential election, SAFE. THE JOB WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

“No leader in American history has withstood more attacks and remained as strong and resilient,” House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) posted on X. “He is unstoppable.”

Hannity, who described Sunday’s incident as “another security lapse,” said on radio that he had spoken to Trump’s son Eric, who told him: “How many lives does my father have left here? He can only dodge so many bullets.”

‘People have a right to the truth’: ongoing investigations

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on X Sunday afternoon that the agency is “investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump.”

Trump had no public events planned for Sunday and his golf game was added to his schedule at the last minute, CNN reported, raising questions about how the gunman may have prepared for the attack. CNN also reported, citing a law enforcement source, that the FBI has launched a “global” investigation after the arrested suspect’s online activity involved platforms based outside the U.S., though no accomplices have been identified.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X that the state would conduct a separate investigation into the incident. “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he got within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP candidate,” said DeSantis, Trump’s former primary rival who has since endorsed him.

Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), members of the congressional task force on the earlier Trump assassination attempt, released a joint statement saying they “have requested a briefing with the U.S. Secret Service on what happened and how security responded.” They said they were thankful Trump was unharmed “but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all its forms” and “will share updates as we learn more.”

In a statement, Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) urged Biden to “provide President Trump with the same level of security as a sitting president to ensure his safety.” Bradshaw, the Palm Beach County sheriff, had said during Sunday’s news conference that one reason the entire perimeter of the golf course was not secured was because Trump had not received the same level of protection as a sitting president and that “security is limited to areas the Secret Service deems possible.”

‘Violence Has No Place’: Democrats, World Leaders, Celebrities React

President Joe Biden, in a statement from the White House, praised the Secret Service and law enforcement, said he was relieved that Trump is safe and reiterated that “there is no place for political violence or any violence in our country.” He added: “I have directed my team to continue to ensure that the Secret Service has all the resources, capabilities and protective measures necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.”

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Minn. Gov. Tim Walz both posted on X that they were “glad” Trump is safe and that “violence has no place” in the U.S. “It’s not who we are as a nation,” Walz said.

“Political violence has no place in a civilized society,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “The alleged perpetrator,” he added, “must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), a member of the congressional task force on the July assassination attempt on Trump, told CNN he was “very concerned” about the Secret Service’s ability to keep the former president safe in outdoor settings and that Americans should also be concerned about how “a second person, clearly deranged, could get that close to the former president with a weapon.” He added: “This is becoming embarrassing for the agency and people in Congress are baffled as to why we’re in this situation a second time.”

Outside the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that while he was “relieved” that the assassination attempt on Trump had failed, “we should not rely on luck.” He added: “We send our best wishes to Donald and Melania, along with our hope that all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the American presidency are thwarted in advance.”

Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador both released statements on social media condemning the attack on Trump. “Peace must always guide democratic processes,” Sheinbaum said.

In a since-deleted post on X, Elon Musk, who supported Trump shortly after the former president survived the previous attempt on his life in July, wrote: “And no one is even trying to kill Biden/Kamala.” (In July, a man was arrested in Florida for threatening to kill Biden, and in August, a man was arrested in Virginia for threatening to kill Harris.) The tech billionaire continued to respond to posts on X expressing support for Trump and blaming Democratic rhetoric for the violence against him.

Comedian Jon Stewart said backstage at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night that there’s one thing he and his Daily show What he and his colleagues are trying to do is “not feel like we’re in the spotlight to make a profound statement about the moment. I don’t know if we can do that.” Though he did offer his tongue-in-cheek advice: “I think the one rule that we could all benefit from in terms of engagement is ‘don’t shoot.’ It doesn’t matter how angry you are, who you don’t like, who you hate… I think instituting a ‘don’t shoot’ policy would be the way to slow things down a bit.”