Following gunfire near his West Palm Beach golf club, former President Donald Trump was declared “safe” by his campaign. The FBI announced on Sunday that it is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination, according to CNN.
Two months before this incident at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, an attempted assassination was reported at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, raising concerns about the U.S. Secret Service.
During a Sunday press conference, West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that the Secret Service had fired shots around 1:30 p.m. ET. A Secret Service agent engaged with a suspect after spotting a rifle barrel. The individual, later arrested, was positioned 300-500 yards away from Trump, according to CNN.
“We were able to catch a witness who told us they saw the suspect running out of the bushes, jumping into a black Nissan. The witness also took a picture of the vehicle and its license plate, which was very helpful,” Bradshaw said. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office took custody of the suspect.
After the incident, Trump reassured supporters of his safety. “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!” Trump wrote in a fundraising email.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, later confirmed on social media that Trump was in “good spirits” after the incident. “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news went public, and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance wrote.
Trump also reiterated his resilience, saying in the email, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
The shooting occurred while Trump was playing golf at Trump International Golf Club, and the course was secured immediately after the gunshots. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, spoke with him after the incident, confirming that Trump was in “good spirits” and more determined than ever to “save the country.”
This comes after a previous assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13, when shots were fired at a rally in Butler. Trump was on stage when Secret Service agents intervened. The former president was injured, with a bullet grazing the upper part of his ear. One attendee was killed, and two others critically injured. The gunman, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents.