Donald Trump is safe following what law enforcement is describing as another assassination attempt on the former president.
"The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump," the FBI said in a statement to Scripps News.
A source familiar with the matter told Scripps News that Secret Service agents engaged with a suspect armed with a "long gun" outside the grounds of Trump International Golf Club.
According to the Associated Press, authorities have identified the person taken into custody as Ryan Wesley Routh.
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During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the individual got into an SUV and fled before he was located nearby and taken into custody. The sheriff added that an AK-47-style rifle with a scope was recovered near the golf club.
Earlier in the day, the Trump campaign had said the former president was safe after shots were fired in his vicinity.
"Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER," Trump had said in a statement.
He later spoke out about the incident on Truth Social.
"I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes — it was certainly an interesting day!" Trump wrote. "Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. 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. THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"
Trump running mate JD Vance said in a statement that he "spoke to him before the news was public" and said Trump was "amazingly, in good spirits."
"The Secret Service did exactly what they should have done. They provided exactly what the protection should have been and their agent did a fantastic job," said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
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The person apprehended is scheduled to make a court appearance Monday morning. The White House said both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the incident and were "relieved" to hear that Trump is safe.
"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," President Biden said in a statement. "I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened. 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."
This comes just two months after former President Trump was wounded in an attempted assassination at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that left one rallygoer dead and two other attendees injured.
