Donald Trump is reported to be safe following a shooting incident near his location. The Secret Service responded to the gunfire as Trump was leaving his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. A Secret Service agent, patrolling the golf course near where Trump was playing, noticed a rifle sticking out of from a fence and opened fire, according to Sheriff Bradshaw. The agent fired four to six shots before the suspect fled. A witness captured a photo of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate, which was provided to law enforcement.
The FBI confirmed that Trump was the subject of an "apparent assassination attempt" and that it is leading the investigation of the incident which occurred around 1.30pm (local time).
"The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump," FBI said in a statement.
As per the police the gunman was carrying an AK-47 and a GoPro with him and was reportedly 400-500 metres away from Trump.
Following the incident, Donald Trump released a statement to address the situation and reassure his supporters. He confirmed, "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! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!"
Donald Trump Jr. confirmed the incident, saying, “Again folks! SHOTS FIRED at Trump Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.” He added that an AK-47 was discovered in the bushes, according to local law enforcement. The Trump campaign has confirmed that former President Trump is safe and a suspect has been apprehended.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said Sunday afternoon. The New York Post reported that two people exchanged gunfire outside Trump International Golf Course, with the shooters targeting each other rather than the former president.
Also read: 'Every time Trump talks immigration, there’s an assassination attempt," says Laura LoomerAccording to law enforcement sources, the Secret Service observed a suspicious individual near Trump International Golf Course and opened fire after agents saw what appeared to be a gun barrel. It is unclear whether the individual was on the course or nearby. An agent fired multiple shots, and the suspect was later apprehended by local police on I-95.
Kamala Harris also issued a statement expressing her relief that Trump was unharmed and said that "violence has no place in the United States" .
"I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America," she said in a post on X.
The White House quickly released a statement following the incident: “The President and Vice President have been briefed on the security situation at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was playing golf. They are relieved to confirm his safety and will receive regular updates from their team.”
The Secret Service, along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the incident. Anthony Guglielmi from the Secret Service confirmed that the shooting involved Trump and occurred shortly before 2 p.m., assuring that Trump is safe.
"The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2pm," said Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the United States Secret Service.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and a close ally of President Trump in Congress, shared an update on social media platform X following the recent incident. Graham mentioned that he had a conversation with Trump after the event took place. According to Graham, during their discussion, Trump appeared to be "in good spirits" despite the circumstances.
This recent incident follows a serious shooting on July 13 during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A gunman opened fire, injuring Trump and killing one attendee, while two others were left in critical condition.