Trump targeted in alleged assassination attempt

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assumed attempt at assassination at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The second assassination attempt took place only 9 weeks after the first attempt. Former President Trump survived both.

On September 15, Former President Trump was playing on his golf course. The United States Secret Service had agents stationed at the holes adjacent to where Trump was playing. At around 1:30 pm, they noticed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle sticking through shrubs that lined the course, around 400 yards away.

Trump was on the 5th hole of the course. When the Secret Service agent saw the barrel of the rifle move, the agent fired at the man and then moved behind a tree to reload his gun. When the agent stepped back out the man was gone.

Shortly after the incident, in an email to his supporters, Trump announced: “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!” He wrote: “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”

Ryan Routh was later identified as the man at the course and more details were unveiled.

Officials have cell phone records that determine that Routh had spent significant time scouting the golf course and Trump’s Ma-a-Lago home. Routh had allegedly been waiting at the course for 12 hours before being spotted, and written a letter months prior.

The letter, addressed to “The World” said: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job, and I will offer $150,000 to whoever can complete the job.”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the attempt and each issued a statement condemning violence towards political figures. Harris, the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election, included in her message that she was “deeply disturbed” by the day’s events and that “we all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”

During a detention hearing that took place on Monday, Mr. Routh’s lawyers argued that he was not a flight risk and did not pose a serious threat. The acting judge disagreed and ordered that Mr. Routh be held in jail without the possibility of bail.

Hannah Neurohr is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email hmn5264@psu.edu