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Donald Trump was the subject of a second apparent assassination attempt at one of his golf courses in Florida on Sunday, the FBI has said.
The former president is safe and unharmed and the bureau says it is investigating the latest security episode involving the Republican presidential nominee, just nine weeks after he survived a previous attempt on his life when he was shot in the ear by a sniper at a rally in Pennsylvania.
A man was spotted aiming an AK-47-type rifle at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf resort while concealed in shrubbery about 400 to 500 yards away from the politician when he was spotted by Secret Service agents who opened fire as he fled the scene.
He was later stopped in a Nissan SUV by police and taken into custody in a neighboring county.
The suspect has since been named as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who is believed to have criticised Trump on social media and expressed his willingness to “fight and die” in Ukraine, a cause in which he appears to have been intensely invested.
Routh appeared in court in West Palm Beach on Monday and was charged with two gun offences.
Breaking: Routh charged with two federal gun offences
No official indictment has been filed yet but Ryan Wesley Routh has reportedly been charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number during his Florida court appearance just now.
A detention hearing has been set for September 23 and his arraignment is scheduled for September 30.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 16:10
Trump claims Democrats’ ‘rhetoric is causing me to be shot at’
The Republican presidential nominee said this to Fox News Digital earlier, alluding to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris calling him a “threat to democracy” (he has said himself that he plans to be “a dictator on day one” and discussing tearing up the US Constitution but hey ho…).
“These are people that want to destroy our country,” Trump told Fox.
“It is called the enemy from within. They are the real threat.”
Don Jr has likewise been taking up this line and Doug Collins and others have taken to the same network to blame “liberal name calling” for the threats against Trump, as though no MAGA conservative would ever dream of trash-talking an opponent.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 16:00
‘The Secret Service needs more help,’ says Biden
Speaking as he left the White House this morning, President Joe Biden again expressed his relief and thanked God that Trump had not been harmed, said he had not yet received a full report on yesterday’s events and commented that the much-criticised US Secret Service might require more support.
“One thing I want to make clear: the Service needs more help,” the commander-in-chief said.
“And I think that Congress should respond to their needs if they in fact need more service people.
“They’re deciding whether they need more personnel or not.”
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 15:40
Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh appears in court in West Palm Beach
Routh is “wearing dark prison scrubs and with his hands and feet shackled”, per CNN.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 15:20
Sheriff’s office releases picture of moment Ryan Wesley Routh arrested
Martin County Sheriff’s Office released this new photo of the suspect a little while ago.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 15:10
Piers Morgan reacts to ‘disgusting’ joke about latest Trump assassination attempt
The British commentator has reacted with fury after Rachel Vindman, the wife of whistleblower Alexander Vindman, made a joke about the latest assassination attempt on Trump.
Here’s Greg Evans to explain.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 14:50
Acting Secret Service directly to remain in Florida ‘indefinitely’ to oversee investigation
It’s possible Ryan Wesley Routh could appear in court later today.
Meanwhile, acting US Secret Service director Ronald Rowe, who replaced Kimberly Cheatle after Butler fiasco, has said he will be in Florida to oversee the investigation for as long as it takes, reviewing the golf course and the suspect’s movements this afternoon.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 14:20
Elon Musk deletes ‘joke’ that ‘no one is trying to assassinate Biden and Harris’ following fierce backlash
The tech entrepreneur has deleted what he now claims was a “joke” about how “no one is trying to assassinate” President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris following the second attempt on Donald Trump’s life on Sunday.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 13:50
Trump to unveil crypto project amid scams and fears of ‘huge embarrassment’
The former president and his sons Donald Jr and Eric were due to be unveiling their new cryptocurrency project “World Liberty Financial” at his Florida golf course later today and, so far, we have not heard about any change to their plans.
Here’s Anthony Cuthbertson on Trump’s latest dubious business venture.
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 13:20
Watch live view of Trump’s golf course in Florida after second assassination attempt on former president
Joe Sommerlad16 September 2024 12:50
