Man charged after apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump at Florida golf course
A man has been charged in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump as he played golf on Sunday.
Appearing in federal court on Monday, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
During the eight-minute appearance, Routh spoke to give basic details about his life, saying he earned $3,000 (£2,270) a month but had no savings.
He also said he had no assets except for two trucks he owned in Hawaii and he had a 25-year-old son he occasionally supported.
A general view of Ryan Wesley Routh being arrested by US authorities.
The gunman has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed it was investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination" of the former president while he was playing a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club, in West Palm Beach, on Sunday.
The former president said he was "safe and well" after the shooting.
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The gunman, who was about 500 yards away from Trump, was hiding in shrubbery and had two backpacks hanging on a fence as well as a GoPro camera.
He was spotted by Secret Service agents who then opened fire on him.
The suspect then dropped his weapon and fled the scene in an SUV. Police said a suspect was later stopped about 45 miles north of the golf course.
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene and no injuries were reported.
In an email to supporters, Trump said: "There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!"
A close up view of two pictures showing evidence seized by US authorities after an apparent assassination attempt on the life of former US president Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club.
He added: "Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!"
It comes just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived a previous attempt on his life.
Following the incident, President Joe Biden said "Thank God the president is okay,” and suggested the Secret Service needs "more help".
"The one thing I want to make clear is Service needs more help, and I think the Congress should respond to their needs if they in fact need more Service people,” Biden said at the White House on Monday.
"So that’s what we’re going to be talking about."
Biden added that the Secret Service "needs some more personnel".
The enforcement agency faced criticism after Trump was shot in the ear in an attempted assassination during a Pennsylvania rally in July.
Other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, condemned the apparent attempt on Trump's life.
Starmer said he was "very worried by the news", adding that "violence has no part to play at all in any political process".
The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he played, and agents were several holes ahead of him when they noticed the person with the firearm, officials said.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend following a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser.
Trump often spends his Sunday mornings playing golf, before having lunch at the Trump International Golf Club - one of three he owns in Florida.
Trump has increased security since the assassination attempt on his life in July, and at outdoor rallies, he now speaks from behind an enclosure of bulletproof glass.
Statistics: Posted by EnterpriseSovereign — 2024-09-16 01:39pm