"Trump rushed to safety as suspect detained following sighting of armed man with rifle"

 

Former President Donald Trump is safe following what appears to be an assassination attempt at his Florida golf course, according to U.S. authorities. A "potential suspect" has been taken into custody.

Secret Service agents reportedly spotted the barrel of a rifle protruding from bushes and immediately opened fire. At the time, Trump was said to be 300-500 yards (275 to 455 meters) away, according to the FBI. An AK47-style rifle, a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera were later found at the scene.

A witness reported seeing the suspect fleeing from the bushes and jumping into a black Nissan after agents had fired at him multiple times. The vehicle was later stopped in Martin County, north of the golf course, after the witness captured the car's license plate.

In an email to his supporters, Trump assured them he was "safe and well," writing, "Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!"

The incident occurred nearly two months after a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring his ear.

The Secret Service confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that they were investigating a "protective incident" involving Trump that took place just before 2:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. BST) on Sunday.

At a press briefing, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw praised the Secret Service agent on the golf course for acting swiftly. He explained that an agent had spotted the rifle barrel and immediately engaged the suspect, who fled.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the incident and were relieved that Trump was safe. Harris also posted on X, expressing her relief and condemning violence, saying, "Violence has no place in America."

This latest incident follows a July 13 attempt on Trump's life in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman fired at him with an AR-15–style rifle. Trump sustained a minor injury, one audience member was killed, and the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper. The Secret Service faced heavy criticism for security lapses following the shooting, and agency director Kimberly Cheatle resigned two weeks after the event.