Highlights:
*9Suspect is identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who voted for Trump in 2016 before writing this year he wanted to see him ‘gone’
*Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspected gunman
Suspect to appear in court
Secret service boss to tour site of incident
*Suspect named as ‘calm’ 58-year-old man — a pro-Ukraine activist
AK-47-style rifle and GoPro camera recovered at scene
Donald Trump survived “what appears to be an assassination attempt” after shots were fired at one of his golf courses in Florida, the FBI said.
The Trump campaign said the former president, 78, was “safe following gunshots in his vicinity” at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
A Secret Service agent opened fire on a man as Trump was playing golf nearby, according to the agency.
A 58-year-old man — identified as Ryan Wesley Routh by the Associated Press — was taken into custody by the West Palm Beach sheriff’s office after a traffic stop on I-95.
• Trump assassination attempt update – follow latest
In an email to supporters, Trump wrote: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.
Routh to appear in court today
A suspect in the apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump will make his first appearance in court today, according to CNN.
Citing law enforcement sources, the network reported that Ryan Routh, 58, will appear in a federal court in Florida this morning. It’s not yet clear what charges Routh will face
Biden: Secret Service needs more help
President Biden said he was glad Trump was safe
President Biden told reporters this morning that “the Secret Service needs more help”, after a second assassination attempt against Donald Trump in as many months (Alistair Dawber writes).
Trump is due to meet the acting director of the agency today to ensure better protection as the presidential election enters its final weeks.
Former presidents do not receive the same level of protection as incumbents. Ric Bradshaw, the sheriff in West Palm Beach, insisted that Trump’s level of protection was as strong as it can be.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president — if he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded,” Bradshaw said. “But because he’s not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.”
Meanwhile,the suspect’s son says,”My dad is not violent”.
Ryan Wesley Routh’s son said his father was “a great dude, a nice guy”
Ryan Wesley Routh’s son said his father was “a great dude, a nice guy”
UKNIP
Ryan Wesley Routh’s son has said his father hates Donald Trump like all “reasonable” people.
Oran Routh told the Mail Online that his father was not a violent person and that he didn’t believe he owned a firearm.
He said his father hates Trump as “every reasonable person does”, adding, “I don’t like Trump either.”
“He’s my dad and all he’s had is a couple traffic tickets, as far as I know. I know my dad and love my dad, but that [the assassination attempt] is nothing like him.
“He said he was at the beach, but I thought that meant the outer banks in Hawaii.
“He’s not a violent person. He’s a hard worker and a great dad. He’s a great dude, a nice guy and has worked his whole f***ing life.
“I hate this game every four years, and think that we all do, and if my father wants to be a martyr to how broken and disassociated the process has become from the real problems and practical solutions, then that’s his choice. I’m not saying that’s what he’s done, that’s just my own rant being fed up with it all for my entire adult life.
Routh previously called out for lies
Back in June, Jack Strong, a western volunteer in Ukraine, warned people on X that Routh was “not in the International Legion or the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Congress task force to investigate assassination attempt
A bipartisan congressional task force investigating the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in July has requested a briefing from the Secret Service on the events of Sunday at his golf course.
The leaders of the task force, the representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) and Jason Crow (D-Colorado), said: “We are thankful that the former president was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms. The task force will share updates as we learn more.”
Kelly told Notus, the publication from the Allbritton Journalism Institute: “I can’t imagine being Mr Trump or any of the Trump children and knowing that their father now has been targeted twice.
The New York Times writer concluded he was “way out of his depth”. They suggested Routh was eager to cast aside his former life for something far more exciting and make a name for himself.
Secret service boss to tour site of incident
The acting head of the Secret Service will tour the site of an apparent second assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
Rowe is expected to tour the Trump International Golf Club today to see where the suspect was positioned when he allegedly pointed an assault-style rifle in Trump’s direction on Sunday.
Rowe will also have briefings with local and federal law enforcement officials on the investigation, a source told the AP.
The Secret Service — already under intense scrutiny after an assassination attempt against Trump in July — is expected to face questions over how the suspect was able to get so close to the former president’s golf course.
Trump: I wish I could’ve finished that hole
Steve Witkoff, a real estate investor and friend of Donald Trump who witnessed the incident, told Fox News that he “couldn’t say enough in terms of praising” the Secret Service and “how quickly they were to jump on him, get him in a very fast golf cart”.
According to Witkoff, Trump checked on his entourage and started joking about having to end his golf round once he was assured everyone was safe.
Trump is reported to have said: “I really wish I could’ve finished that hole.”
Russia will use incident as propaganda, Ukraine warns
A senior Ukrainian official has warned that the apparent assassination attempt will be used by Moscow to spread “propaganda”.
“Russia is using another attempt on Trump’s life against Ukraine in the media,” said Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Kyiv’s Centre for Countering Disinformation.
“The mass media drew attention to the fact that Routh supported Ukraine. In addition, he is associated with an organisation that was involved in the supply of weapons to Ukraine and Taiwan. This incident is already becoming a topic for Russian propaganda,” he said, adding that these attempts would continue in the coming days.
Russia not interfering in election, says Kremlin
The Kremlin said that the Ukrainian links of the alleged shooter showed that “playing with fire” had consequences.
Asked about what the FBI called an assassination attempt on Trump, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that Moscow was following the tense situation in the US, and that Russia was not interfering in the presidential election.
Zelensky praises suspect’s quick arrest
President Zelensky said that the rule of law was paramount
President Zelensky said that the rule of law was paramount
HEIKO BECKER/REUTERS
President Zelensky has condemned the apparent assassination attempt.
He said political violence has no place anywhere. “I am glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe and unharmed. My best wishes to him and his family. It’s good that the suspect in the assassination attempt was apprehended quickly. This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world.” Zelensky wrote on X.
Starmer: Violence has no part to play in political process
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “deeply troubled” about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump.
Speaking in Rome during his trip to meet Giorgia Meloni, his Italian counterpart, the prime minister told broadcasters: “I was very worried by the news about this attempt. Looks like an assassination attempt, very worried about it.
“Obviously, there’s now an investigation going on so I won’t say much more about the details, but I think it is really important that we’re all very, very clear that violence has no part to play at all in any political process.”
Assassination attempt is concerning, says Australian PM
Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, said it was a “good thing” that Trump was safe.
Speaking to reporters in Canberra, he said that while details of the apparent assassination attempt were not yet known, “what is clear is that President Trump is safe, that is a good thing”.
He added: “Everyone wants the democratic process to be peaceful and to be orderly. This incident in the United States is of concern, again.”
Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, told media that “political violence has no place in any society”.
Hungarian PM offers prayers for Trump’s safety
Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, has said the former US president’s “life is in danger”.
In a post on X, Orban wrote: “It is clear that President Trump’s life is in danger, until his victory. We are praying for you, Mr President!”
Orban has publicly endorsed Trump’s bid for re-election and visited him in Florida in July, weeks after meeting President Putin as part of the Hungarian’s “peace mission” for the Ukraine war.
The Hungarian leader has often been criticised in Europe but is popular among Trump supporters and US conservatives, with some considering his premiership as a role model. Orban has been in power for 14 years, and his rule has been described by the European parliament as a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy”.
Suspect was delusional, says Ukraine’s foreign legion
A senior official with Ukraine’s foreign legion has said Routh was never part of the military unit.
“We can confirm this person reached out to us online multiple times,” Oleksandr Shaguri, an officer of the foreigners co-ordination department of the Land Forces command, told the broadcaster CNN.
“He was offering us large numbers of recruits from different countries but it was obvious to us his offers were not realistic. We didn’t even answer, there was nothing to answer to. He was never part of the legion and didn’t cooperate with us in any way.”
He added that “the best way to describe his messages is, delusional ideas”.
Since the incident in Florida on Sunday, it has emerged that Routh was a strong supporter of Ukraine in the war with Russia. He visited the country in 2022, the year Moscow invaded.
In 2022, Routh said he had travelled to Kyiv to support the war effort against Russia
In 2022, Routh said he had travelled to Kyiv to support the war effort against Russia
Routers
Musk suggests Biden-Kamala post was a joke
Elon Musk appears to have deleted a post in which he questioned why there had been no assassination attempt on President Biden or Kamala Harris.
The billionaire was responding to another user on X who asked: “Why [do] they want to kill Donald Trump?” Musk wrote: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” followed by a chin-stroking emoji.
Musk has since posted comments suggesting he was making a joke. He wrote: “Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X.”
Former neighbour says suspect ‘was a little cuckoo’
A former neighbour of Routh said everyone on the street was “afraid” of the suspected shooter.
The neighbour in North Carolina said she knew the suspect possessed guns but was still surprised by the news.
The neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I didn’t think he would go that far. I knew he was a little cuckoo, but assassinating the president? He’s going to be going away for a long time.
“I’ve seen the guns myself and all, and, yeah, they had a lot of guns and stuff over there, and, yeah, a lot of people were afraid of him back in the day.
“I thought he was just living the life in Hawaii with the girlfriend and all, so for him to be assassinating the president, that’s just crazy.”
Suspect may face local charges as FBI leads investigation
Routh at a rally in support of Ukraine at the Independence Square in Kyiv
Routh at a rally in support of Ukraine at the Independence Square in Kyiv
REUTERS
Media reports in the US have suggested that Routh could appear in a Florida court as early as today.
He is being held in police custody and the FBI has taken the lead in the investigation into Sunday’s events. Officials in Florida have said they may seek to caution the 58-year-old on local charges first.
Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach county’s state attorney, said the filing of local search warrants and charges “does not preclude the federal charges that could be coming”.
Public records have revealed several court cases involving Routh since the 1990s. State and federal authorities have repeatedly accused him of failing to pay his taxes, US media reported. Separately, judges have ordered him to pay tens of thousands of dollars to plaintiffs in various civil cases.
Uncertainty looms over Trump’s campaign schedule
It is unclear at present if the latest assassination attempt could affect Trump’s campaign schedule.
His next public appearance is due to be a town hall meeting in Flint, Michigan on Tuesday, alongside Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his former press secretary, but it is not clear whether that event will still go ahead.
He is currently in Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, and is set to speak from Florida on X on Monday evening for the launch of his sons’ cryptocurrency platform. On Wednesday, the former president is scheduled to appear at a rally in New York’s Long Island.
Yvette Cooper ‘glad Trump is safe’
Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said the reports of a second assassination attempt on Trump were “really disturbing”.
Cooper told Sky News: “This is obviously very serious and it’s appalling to see political violence taking place. Violence should have no place in any political campaign.
“We’re all glad that the former president is safe, and that this attempt, whatever it was that happened, was not successful.”
8.18am
Suspect described himself as barbaric killer in book
The cover of the self-published book written by Routh
The cover of the self-published book written by Routh
The suspect in the attempted assassination of Trump wrote a self-published book in which he said he “would probably fall in the category of barbaric killer”.
Routh is listed as the author on a 291-page book entitled Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, published in February last year.
In the book’s description on Amazon, where it is on sale for £2.48, he wrote about the war in Ukraine, asking the question: “How do we justify killing in any form? I would think that the more civilised and progressive we get the more respect for life we would have.
“I would probably fall in the category of barbaric killer as I laugh about her and kill chickens in the same day.
“If we all are opposed to the unjust random killings of civilians how can we go about our daily lives and not act when thousands of our innocent neighbours are getting murdered by a terrorist like Putin?”
Suspect’s book hints at violence against Trump
Routh’s self-published book refers to a potential attack on Trump, according to reports.
In the book, Routh claims he attempted to join the war effort only to be turned away at the border between Poland and Ukraine.
Extracts posted online include an “apology” to Iran for “brainless” Trump’s election in 2016. The author wrote: “I must take part of the blame … but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake and to Iran I apologise. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgement … No one here in the US seems to have the balls to put natural selection to work or even unnatural selection.”
The book also asks: “Why has Putin not been assassinated?”
Ex-Secret Service agent warns of ‘copycat’ attacks
Trump is at risk from further “copycat” attacks after a second apparent assassination attempt, Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service agent, said.
McDonald, who supervised security for Joe Biden when he was vice-president, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Copycat people are exactly who we are worried about, they see now that over the last eight weeks that two people have got relatively close to the former president with high-powered rifles and were able to potentially cause damage. The bigger concern now is, is somebody going to get a bit closer and do serious damage?”
McDonald said it was “a good day for the Secret Service” despite a gunman getting within 500 yards of Trump, two months after the former president was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Unclear if shots were fired at Trump
Secret Service and police brief the media — saying security was limited “because he’s not the sitting president”
One of the key questions that remains unanswered is whether any shots were fired at Donald Trump. The Secret Service has confirmed that its agents “opened fire on a gunman” after spotting a rifle barrel sticking out of the boundary fence at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
At a press conference Rafael Barros, of the Secret Service, did not confirm whether shots were fired in the direction of the former president. He said: “We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents.” The suspect fled in a black car after being confronted. An “AK-47 style rifle” with a scope and a GoPro video camera were recovered from the scene.
Netanyahu: ‘We should not rely on luck’
Trump with Sara and Binyamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in July
Trump with Sara and Binyamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in July
Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has expressed his “shock” at a second assassination attempt on Trump. He said he and his wife, Sara, “were relieved to hear that it too failed” and added: “But we should not rely on luck.”
In a post on the prime minister’s official X account, he wrote: “We send our best wishes to Donald and Melania, along with our hopes that all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the US presidency will be foiled in advance.”
Both sides of aisle call for more security
Republicans and Democrats alike have called for Trump to receive the same security level as the sitting president. Ritchie Torres, a Democratic congressman from New York, helped to introduce a bill to enhance protections for all major candidates in July, when Trump was shot in the ear at a Pennsylvania rally. He told Axios on Sunday: “Anything less than maximum protection is a self-inflicted wound that puts our nation’s stability at grave risk.”
Will this scupper his sons’ ‘future of crypto’ launch?
Trump is scheduled to launch a new cryptocurrency platform on Monday evening at his Mar-a-Lago residence, minutes away from the golf club where the apparent assassination attempt took place.
He is due to unveil “World Liberty Financial”, which will be controlled by his sons Donald Jr and Eric, at 8pm local time (1am on Tuesday in the UK). The Trumps have described it as “the future of crypto”.
It is not yet clear whether Trump will change his schedule. CNN reported his golf game on Sunday was a “last-minute addition to his schedule”. On Tuesday night Trump is due to host a town hall event in Flint, Michigan.
‘It was insane’: motorist describes seeing the arrest
A motorist has described how police swooped on the suspect after the apparent assassination attempt.
Daniel Rodriguez told CNN he was driving with his family back to Orlando on Interstate 95 when he saw a black Nissan speed past followed by multiple state troopers travelling at around 90mph. “It was insane,” Rodriguez said. “We saw a black Nissan speed up and merge in and out of traffic. We saw a helicopter flying in the air and many more police starting to appear. Then, a state trooper pulled over and stopped the traffic lane. By the end, I can say there were at least 20 patrol cars behind the Nissan.”
He said he saw police pointing their guns at the suspect before he was escorted away from the area.
Lawyer notes suspect’s calm demeanour
The suspect appeared “calm” after he was arrested, according to a state attorney in Florida. “He knew enough to stay silent,” David Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “He did not apparently speak to officers, he was calm.
“So, it looked like a person who has done this before, not necessarily this crime, but someone who has had repeated interactions with law enforcement.”
Trump thanks Secret Service
Trump has paid tribute to the agents who protected him in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes,” he said. “It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office of brave and dedicated patriots, and all of law enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential election, SAFE.”
He continued in block capitals: “The job done was absolutely outstanding. I am very proud to be an Amerrican.
North Carolina home searched by Secret Service
Police have been searching a former home of Ryan Routh, the suspected gunman, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Photographs from Reuters show agents from the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security entering the address.
Routh has a series of previous convictions in Guilford County, North Carolina, including carrying a concealed weapon and resisting arrest, according to CB
Alleged gunman voted for Trump in 2016. What changed?
The pro-Ukraine activist suspected of being Trump’s would-be assassin was charged in 2002 for possession of a “weapon of mass destruction” — and said on social media this year he wanted to see the former president “gone”.
• Who is Ryan Routh, the suspect in the Trump assassination attempt?
3.45am
Harris: We will make sure Secret Service has all it needs
Kamala Harris has said she will ensure that law enforcement has “every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary” to investigate the latest attempt on Trump’s life.
“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today,” the vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee said on Sunday night. “As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the US Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission
Democrats speak out against political violence
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority House leader, has released a statement condemning the apparent assassination attempt. “Political violence has no place in a civilised society. I am thankful that former President Trump is safe and that the alleged perpetrator is in custody. He should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said.
Earlier, Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker emeritus, wrote in a post on X that there is “never is a place for political violence of any kind in America”, adding: “As the investigation into today’s incident continues, let us commend law enforcement for their actions to keep the former President safe from harm.”
Paul Pelosi, her husband, was seriously injured after being attacked inside his San Francisco home by a far-right conspiracy theorist in 2022. Trump has joked about the incident in campaign speeches, including as recently as last week.
Musk accused of incitement for post on Biden-Kamala
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, has been criticised for an “inflammatory” post in which he mused that “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala”.
Users questioned whether Musk’s post breached US laws around incitement to violence against politicians. Olivia Troye, an ex-aide to Mike Pence, the former vice-president, wrote: “This is vile and reckless. You know better, and that makes this all the more despicable.”
Within an hour the post had received more than eight million views and was reposted 12,000 times.
Musk, 53, has become increasingly strident about his support for Trump and disdain for Democrats since purchasing the platform formerly known as Twitter for $44 billion in 2022. Earlier this month Trump said he would appoint Musk head of government efficiency if he was elected in November.
Suspect’s son speaks
Oran Routh, son of Ryan Routh, the suspected gunman, said he could not imagine his father doing anything so “crazy” as attempting to kill Trump.
“I don’t have any comment beyond a character profile of him as a loving and caring father, and honest, hardworking man,” he told CNN. “I don’t know what’s happened in Florida, and I hope things have just been blown out of proportion, because from the little I’ve heard, it doesn’t sound like the man I know to do anything crazy, much less violent. He’s a good father, and a great man, and I hope you can portray him in an honest light.”
He told the Daily Mail that his father hated Trump as “every reasonable person does” but not to the extent of wanting to murder him. “He’s my dad and all he’s had is a couple traffic tickets, as far as I know. That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him … I’ve never known him to own a gun or known him to do anything batshit like this.”
Ron DeSantis: Florida will run its own investigation
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, said state authorities would conduct their own investigation into the apparent assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
“The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis said in a post on X.
The FBI is the lead investigative agency in the present investigation. At a press conference on Sunday, Jeffrey Veltri, the head of the FBI Miami field office, said the bureau had deployed investigative teams, bomb technicians and crisis response and evidence response teams. He added that the “full resources of the FBI” had been mobilised, and were working alongside the US Secret Service, and the Palm Beach and Martin County sheriff’s offices.
‘They were putting on the fifth hole, then heard popping’
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s longtime friend, was his golf partner when the shooting began
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s longtime friend, was his golf partner when the shooting began
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Sean Hannity, the Fox News host and a close friend of Trump’s, said he had spoken with the former president three times since the apparent assassination attempt on Sunday.
Hannity said on Fox News that Trump and his golf partner, the investor Steve Witkoff, had been about to take their putts on the fifth hole when they heard “pop pop, pop pop”. A few seconds later, Secret Service agents “pounced on the [former] president” and covered his body from incoming fire.
Drone video identified a suspect getting into a car, according to Hannity. “This happened in a matter of seconds.” A few moments later, a “fast cart” with steel reinforcements whisked Trump away. “The first thing the president did when he got back to the clubhouse was to make sure everybody was OK,” Hannity added.
Trump then joked with Witkoff that he was annoyed that he could not complete his golf round, Hannity said. He said the remarks showed “a lot of guts and gumption and [was] very Trumpy in every way”, adding: “The Secret Service apparently acted with incredible speed and professionalism, but certainly alarming in every way imaginable after what happened in Butler,” referring to the previous assassination attempt in July.
God saved him again, says Trump ally pastor
Robert Jeffress, an evangelical preacher and onetime spiritual adviser to Trump, said that he believed the former president’s life had, again, been spared by God.
“The Old Testament in Psalm 139 says God has planned each of our days before we live one of them. And clearly it’s not President Trump’s time to go yet,” Jeffress told The Times. “God has a purpose for his life, just as he does for everyone.”
After the first attempt on Trump’s life in July, Jeffress said he had spoken to the former president to offer his prayers and support. Asked whether there was any spiritual guidance he might offer Trump at this time, he said: “I would just use times like this to reflect on what God might be saying to me about his future plans for my life, and it’s a reminder that we’re all going to die one day, if not today, and that we need to be prepared to meet God.”
Biden issues statement
President Biden has released a statement saying he had been briefed on the situation, and added: “I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former president and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former president is unharmed.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former president’s continued safety.
L
Social media posts of suspect revealed
The suspect that police say targeted Trump in an assassination attempt frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine.
Ryan Routh claimed on X that he had travelled to Ukraine in 2022 to fight for an international legion against the Russians. It is unclear if he actually did so. Routh also echoed some Democratic talking points in his language on X, writing on April 22 this year: “Democracy is on the ballot and we cannot lose.” His account has since been suspended.
After Trump survived the attempt on his life in July, Routh urged President Biden to attend the funeral of Corey Compatore, the Trump supporter who was shot and killed. “Trump certainly never would,” he wrote on July 16, tagging Biden. “Show the world what real leaders do.”
In an interview with Newsweek Romania in June 2022, Routh said he was in Kyiv to support the war effort, and tied Ukraine’s hopes of winning the war to elections in the West. “We’re going to have to elect new leaders the next go round that have a backbone and have the fortitude to say ‘hey we’re not going to tolerate this type of behaviour
Suspect voted for Trump in 2016, then said: ‘I will be glad when you are gone’
The house of Routh in Kaaawa, Hawaii
The house of Routh in Kaaawa, Hawaii
Routh voted for Trump in 2016 but had since turned against him. In July, after the attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Pennsylvania, Routh posted on X: “While you were my choice in 2016, I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving. Are you retarded; I will be glad when you are gone.”
Shooter is an ‘evil monster’
Trump’s campaign managers have described the would-be assassin as an “evil monster” in an email to staff. Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles urged campaign workers to remain vigilant in the coming days for security threats.
“This is not a matter we take lightly. Your safety is always our top priority. We ask that you remain vigilant in your comings and goings. Be observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness,” the campaign co-chairs wrote in an email obtained by Politico. “As we enter the last 50 days of President Trump’s campaign, we must remember that we will only be able to Save America by working together as one team.”
The Trump campaign’s Palm Beach field office was briefly locked down after the shooting incident at Trump International Golf Course at about 1.30pm.
I wanted to finish the round, Trump jokes
Trump has spoken to several of his allies from Mar-a-Lago.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, wrote on X: “He is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. He’s in good spirits and he is more resolved than ever to save our country.”
Ronny Jackson, a Republican congressman from Texas, told The New York Times he had checked in with Trump by phone. “He told me he was always glad to hear from me but he was glad he didn’t need my services today,” Jackson said. “I just told him he was glad he was OK and he said he can’t believe this happened.”
Trump is said to have joked with allies that he was frustrated he could not finish his golf roun
Trump supporters gathered outside the resort as police investigate the area where the gunman fired from, below
Trump supporters gathered outside the resort as police investigate the area where the gunman fired from, below
Trump: This has only strengthened my resolve
Trump has said his “resolve is only stronger” in a new fundraising email. In a separate message posted on his primary fundraising website, he urged supporters to “fear not”, adding: “I am safe and well and no one was hurt, thank God. But there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us. I will not stop fighting for you. I will never surrender. I will always love you for supporting me. Through our unity we will make America Great Again.”
12.35am
Suspect voted as a Democrat this year
When he first registered as a voter in 2012, Routh was of no party affiliation. He last voted in March this year in a Democratic primary, records show.
He studied at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a mechanical engineer, according to his LinkedIn profile, and while living in Oahu, Hawaii, over the past six years, founded an organisation dedicated to building homes for the homeless.
“There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida,” Stefanik said. “As Americans, we must unite behind him in November to protect our republic and bring peace back to the world.”
Law enforcement have said that a suspect was 250 to 450 metres away from the former president and was armed with an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, and planned to film the assassination attempt with a GoPro camera.
Tim Walz: ‘Violence has no place in our country’
Tim and Gwen Walz campaigning on Saturday in Superior, Wisconsin
Tim and Gwen Walz campaigning on Saturday in Superior, Wisconsin
ERICA DISCHINO/REUTERS
Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice-president, and Gwen, his wife, have said they are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe.
Walz, the governor of Minnesota, condemned the apparent assassination attempt against the former president. “Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation,” he wrote in a post on X.
Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, on Sunday afternoon after surviving the second attempt on his life in just over two months.
His campaign has said he is “safe following gunshots in his vicinity.
Analysis: will this affect the election?
The former president’s campaign has been quick to seek donations in the light of the new assassination attempt but the first attack is already a footnote in the White House race.
• Will latest attempt to kill Donald Trump affect US election?
His account on X contains an intense series of posts since 2020 containing statements about Ukraine that include a pledge to “fly to the Ukraine and join the fight and die if need be for democracy” and “we need to burn the Kremlin to the ground and put an end to Russia and Putin”.
His latest, posted in December 2023, claimed that he also had fighters willing to help enforce law and order in Haiti. “I have thousands of Afghan soldiers that wish to serve for the Haiti national police at cheap wages. 1000 with passports ready to fly,” he posted.
In other posts, he spoke of his ambition to rally “global support” for Taiwan by establishing a Foreign Legion comprising thousands of volunteer fighters to protect it against China.
In recent days Trump’s policy towards Ukraine has come under scrutiny. In his TV debate with Harris last week he refused to say he wanted Kyiv to triumph over Russia — only that he wanted the war “done”. On Friday JD Vance, his running-mate, said Trump’s plan was to force Kyiv to concede vast swathes of its territory including Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, and the land occupied by Russian forces in the south and east of the country after Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Did the Secret Service get lucky again?
For those of us who were at the Butler rally on July 13, it was immediately clear from the look on Secret Service agents’ faces that they knew they had presided over a disaster (writes Tom Newton Dunn — who reported from the scene).
To a man, they were mortified, and as shocked as the rest of us. Thomas Crooks should never have been allowed a clear shot at Trump, let alone one from an elevated position just 150 yards away, and that came within a literal inch of killing him.
The full details of what happened at the West Palm Beach golf club today are not clear. The key questions the Service will now have to answer are:
• Did the shooter get any rounds off before they stopped him?
• Did he manage to get himself in a position to?
The gunman was less than 500 yards from Trump and had a scope on his AK47 rifle. Professional snipers can kill from a mile away. The answers will reveal whether the already bitterly criticised service were the heroes of the day, or just got lucky again.
Either way, in an already heated, fiercely contested election campaign, the incident will inevitably spark a fresh barrage of anger and conspiracy theorising and turn up the temperature yet further.
• I was at the Trump rally shooting — there was silence, then chaos.
Suspect ‘charged with 100 offences’ before 2019
A man whose name and age matches the apparent suspect barricaded himself in his home in Greenboro, North Carolina, during a stand-off with police in 2002.
Ryan Wesley Routh, then 36, was pulled over in a routine traffic stop before driving to a nearby roofing business and locking himself inside, according to the Greensboro News and Record. He was arrested three hours later and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon of mass destruction, referring to a fully automatic machine gun. He was also charged with resisting, delaying and obstructing a law enforcement officer and driving while licence revoked.
Public records show that Routh was charged with more than 100 criminal offences between 1998 and 2019. The former resident of North Carolina had recently been living in Hawaii, according to property records.
Ryan Wesley Routh found in voter records
Voter registration records show only one person named Ryan Wesley Routh. He is listed in Queensboro, North Carolina as a white male aged between 55 and 64, registered since 2012. He last voted on March 5, 2024 — “Super Tuesday”, when multiple states held primaries for both parti
Ronald Reagan was almost killed by a bullet fired as he left the Washington Hilton only two months into his presidency in 1981. His ratings rose by about eight points on average over the next couple of months but then began to drop as the US fell into recession, and he ended the year more than ten points lower than at his inauguration.
The suspected gunman has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, the Associated Press reported citing three law enforcement officials.
Routh, 58, was arrested shortly after Secret Service agents opened fire on a man at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach at about 1.30pm local time on Sunday, law enforcement has said.
William D Snyder, the Martin County sheriff, told a news conference that the suspect was “relatively calm” when he was detained on the I-95 highway. “He was not displaying a lot of emotions. Never asked, ‘What is this about?’” the sheriff said at a news conference.
Suspect ‘had AK-47, GoPro and two backpacks’
Ric Bradshaw, the local sheriff, showing a photograph of evidence recovered from the scene
Ric Bradshaw, the local sheriff, showing a photograph of evidence recovered from the scene
Ric Bradshaw, the Palm Beach County sheriff, told a news conference that a Secret Service agent noticed a rifle barrel sticking out from a fence at Trump International Golf Club at West Palm Beach, and “engaged” with the would-be assassin.
The suspect was positioned between 270m and 450m from where Trump was playing a round of golf, Bradshaw said. Officers recovered an AK-47 style rifle, a GoPro camera and two backpacks from where the man had positioned himself.
Bradshaw said a witness saw the man run from the bushes and took a picture of his vehicle, which led to his apprehension.
A man in his fifties was arrested by officers from the Martin County sheriff’s office on a nearby highway shortly afterwards, officials said. The man has not said anything about his involvement since being taken into custody, Bradshaw added.
JD Vance: He’s in good spirits
JD Vance, Trump’s running-mate, said in a post on X: “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
In July, Vance said the “rhetoric” of the Biden campaign “had led to Trump’s attempted assassination” at a rally in Pennsylvania.
If the FBI are correct in assessing this as an attempted assassination, it would be the second against Trump this year. On July 13, he had just begun to deliver remarks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fit’s.
Biden and Harris respond
President Biden and Kamala Harris have been briefed on the apparent assassination attempt and say they are both “relieved to know that he is safe”, according to the White House. “They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the White House said in a statement.
In a post on X, Harris, the vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee, wrote: “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.”
Several shots were fired at the Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, at around 2pm on Sunday where Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, was golfing at the time.