On Sunday, September 15, a suspected assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was thwarted at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh from Hawaii, was found with a rifle while hiding in shrubbery near the perimeter of the golf course.
Trump, who was playing golf, was about 300-500 yards away when the suspect was spotted.
Details of the Incident
At around 1:30 p.m., during a routine security sweep, a Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of a rifle protruding through the fence surrounding the golf course.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County holds a photo showing items belonging to a suspected gunman at a golf course where former President Donald J. Trump was playing on Sunday. Credit: Saul Martinez for The New York Times
Upon identifying the weapon, the agent fired at the suspect, who fled the scene in a black Nissan. A witness managed to capture a photograph of the fleeing car, allowing law enforcement to quickly issue an alert.
Within 45 minutes, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested on Interstate 95 in Martin County, north of West Palm Beach.
Investigators recovered a semiautomatic rifle with a scope, backpacks filled with ceramic tiles, and a video camera left in the bushes where Routh had been hiding. Authorities believe the suspect may have intended to record the assassination attempt.
Law Enforcement Response
Speaking with CBS News, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw detailed how the incident unfolded: “It’s remarkable that someone got this close to the former president. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges with large, open spaces like golf courses.”
Bradshaw also praised the swift response of the Secret Service, calling it “a textbook example of agents neutralizing a threat.”
Special Agent Rafael Barros of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, also addressing NBC News, stated, “The suspect was spotted by one of our agents, who acted quickly to protect the former president. While we’re unsure whether the individual fired the weapon, it was clear that our agents acted with the speed and precision necessary in such a dangerous situation.”
Suspect Background
The suspect [REUTERS]
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is a controversial figure linked to international conflict. He previously traveled to Ukraine in 2022, claiming to be recruiting foreign fighters for the war against Russia.
The International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine, however, denied any formal association with Routh, labeling his claims “entirely inaccurate.”
Routh’s son, Jason Routh, spoke to local reporters and expressed shock at the news, but also mentioned concerns about his father’s mental health in recent years.
“He was always talking about the war and politics like he was still fighting. I knew he had strong opinions, but I didn’t expect this. He wasn’t the same dad I grew up with, that’s for sure.”
Neighbors described Routh as a polarizing figure. One former neighbor, Kim Mungo, told The Palm Beach Post, “Ryan could be a sweetheart, but he also had this strange side. He kept loads of stolen property at his place and was known for shooting off guns in the yard.”
In response to the incidence, Trump reassured his supporters that he was unharmed. In a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after the incident, Trump stated, “Nothing will slow me down. We have work to do, and we will not be stopped.”
Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her relief that no harm had come to Trump, telling CNN, “Violence is never the answer. I’m relieved that everyone is safe.”
President Joe Biden echoed similar sentiments during a press briefing, stating, “There’s no place for political violence in this country.”
On the Republican side, Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Trump, told Fox News that he had spoken to Trump after the incident and that the former president was “in good spirits, even joking about not being able to finish his round of golf.”
Security Concerns
This assassination attempt is the second one directed at Donald Trump in just over two months.
The first occurred on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump sustained a minor injury after being grazed by a bullet.
In light of these threats, former Secret Service agent Barry Donadio, speaking with The Washington Post, called for a reevaluation of security for all presidential candidates. “These incidents raise serious concerns. Do all candidates deserve the same level of security as sitting presidents?” he asked.
The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announcing that the state will also conduct its own review.
Speaking to The Miami Herald, DeSantis said, “The people of Florida deserve transparency. We need to understand how this individual got so close to a presidential candidate on a well-guarded property.”
Ryan Wesley Routh remains in custody and is expected to face federal charges, including attempted assassination of a former president. He is scheduled for a court appearance later this week.
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