An assassination attempt on President Donald Trump was thwarted at Trump International Golf Club in Florida on September 15, 2024. Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old from Hawaii, was apprehended after approaching the Trump with an AK-47 rifle.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Routh was positioned between 300 and 500 yards from President Trump when the Secret Service intervened. Routh had equipped himself with a GoPro camera, planning to film the attack. It is unclear if Routh fired any shots during the incident.
Sheriff Bradshaw criticized the security measures at the golf club, noting that the protection provided was inadequate for someone of President Trump’s stature. “If Trump were the sitting president, the entire golf course would have been surrounded,” Bradshaw said.
President Trump responded to the threat by assuring his supporters, “I am SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
Routh’s previous political contributions reveal support for Democratic figures such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), contrasting with his past support for Trump in 2016.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, also commented, expressing gratitude that the former president was safe. This incident follows a similar attack in July, highlighting ongoing security concerns for President Trump.
The FBI is conducting an investigation into the attack, and additional security measures are expected at future events involving President Trump. The public is advised to avoid the golf course area as the investigation continues.
