In a recent incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, former President Donald Trump was targeted in what the FBI described as an attempted assassination. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, camped outside the golf course where Trump was playing with a rifle and was thwarted by a Secret Service agent. Routh, 58, faces charges related to possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction. He had a history of posting on social media about the war in Ukraine and had even traveled there to support the fight against the Russian invasion.
Routh’s political affiliations appear to be inconsistent, as he had previously shown support for both then-President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard. However, in recent years, his posts indicated a shift in support towards President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He had also made political donations through a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates. Routh had multiple run-ins with law enforcement in North Carolina, including charges for possessing stolen goods and a conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction in 2002.
The incident at the golf course unfolded when authorities spotted a firearm near where Trump was playing. A Secret Service agent discharged his firearm when he saw Routh armed with what appeared to be a rifle, causing Routh to flee. He was later captured in a neighboring county. Trump initially reassured the public about his safety and praised the Secret Service for their protection. However, he later claimed without evidence that comments made by Biden and Harris had incited the attempted assassination. Both Biden and Harris condemned the violence and emphasized the need to prevent such incidents.
Despite the incident, Trump has not announced any changes to his schedule and continues to carry on with his activities. Meanwhile, a bipartisan congressional task force investigating the first attack on Trump in Pennsylvania has requested a briefing by the Secret Service. The task force leaders expressed concern over political violence and condemned it in all forms. The incident adds further upheaval to an already turbulent election cycle, with Trump’s reelection bid, Biden’s withdrawal from the race, and now two assassination attempts shaping the political landscape.
