Trump Targeted in Second Apparent Assassination Attempt

Trump himself said in a website fundraising message: "Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!"

The unnerving incident appears to mark the second time in as many months that Trump has been the target of an assassination attempt. The former president was wounded in the ear on July 13 as he addressed an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Who is the attacker?

CNN and CBS reported Routh was a self-employed affordable housing builder in Hawaii who had an arrest record spanning decades and regularly posted on politics and current events, including sometimes criticizing Trump, the Republican presidential candidate.

One cause Routh expressed support for was Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

"I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE... Can I be the example We must win," Routh said in an X post in March 2022, according to the New York Times, which also interviewed him.

AFP interviewed Routh in Kyiv in late April 2022, while he was taking part in a demonstration in support of Ukrainians trapped in the port city of Mariupol.

"Putin is a terrorist, and he needs to be ended, so we need everybody from around the world to stop what they are doing and come here now," he told AFP at the time.

The United States has been a staunch support of Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

U.S. President Joe Biden will be replaced next January either by his Vice President Kamala Harris, who has indicated she will continue his policies of backing Ukraine, or by Trump, who would not say at a debate earlier this week whether he wanted Kyiv to win the war.

  Unsure if shot taken 

Authorities who addressed Sunday's news conference did not confirm whether a gunman actually fired a weapon in the direction of the former president, but said that shots were fired by the Secret Service.

"We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents," said Rafael Barros, of the Secret Service.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it is "investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump."

Officials praised the quick action of the Secret Service, an agency that has been under intense scrutiny since its apparent failure to detect and stop a gunman from shooting at Trump in Pennsylvania.

Sheriff Bradshaw said Secret Service personnel in Trump's protective detail spotted "this rifle barrel sticking out of the fence and immediately engaged that individual, at which time the individual took off."

He estimated the suspect was set up 300 to 500 yards (275 to 455 meters) away, but "with a rifle and a scope like that, that's not a long distance."

Sheriff William Snyder of neighboring Martin County said on CNN that the suspect who was stopped and detained by law enforcement had "a relatively calm, flat affect. He was not displaying a lot of emotions."

  'Relieved' 

The incident came amid heightened tensions in the knife-edge presidential race, and concern for the safety of both candidates.

"There is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country," Biden said in a statement.

"I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former president's continued safety."

Vice President Harris took to social media to say "I am glad he is safe."

Several Trump supporters and members of his inner circle, including his running mate J.D. Vance, offered their support and gratitude that tragedy was avoided.

"I'm glad President Trump is safe," Vance said on X. "I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits."

The Secret Service, tasked with protecting presidents, former presidents and other dignitaries, has faced criticism since the Pennsylvania shooting.

Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the agency, resigned amid the ensuing scrutiny, and at least five agents were placed on administrative leave.

Representative Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking U.S. House Republican, thanked law enforcement for their actions Sunday but raised questions about the latest incident.

"We must ask ourselves how an assassin was allowed to get this close to President Trump again," she said in a statement.

"There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida."

Source: HDN