Former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Florida on Sunday, according to the FBI. The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested after Secret Service agents fired shots near the edge of Trump’s golf course. Authorities recovered an AK-47-style rifle equipped with a scope and a GoPro camera at the scene.
When the Secret Service agents fired, Routh reportedly fled from the bushes where he had been hiding and escaped in a black car. Thanks to witnesses who provided key information, police were able to track down and arrest him.
“We have a suspect in custody at the moment,” said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw during a press conference, as reported by AFP.
Routh, a former construction worker from Greensboro, North Carolina, had no formal military experience but had previously shown a strong interest in armed conflict, particularly in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. According to The New York Times, Routh had openly declared his desire to fight in Ukraine. In one of his posts on X (formerly known as Twitter), he said, “I am willing to fly to Krakow and go to the border of Ukraine to volunteer and fight and die.”
His online activity extended to messaging apps like Signal, where his bio stated, “Civilians must change this war and prevent future wars.” On WhatsApp, his bio read, “Each one of us must do our part daily in the smallest steps to support human rights, freedom, and democracy; we each must help the Chinese.”
In addition to his online activism, Routh claimed in a 2023 interview with The New York Times that he had traveled to Ukraine to assist in the war effort and to recruit Afghan soldiers. His history of violent tendencies wasn’t new; in 2002, he was arrested after barricading himself in a building in Greensboro with a fully automatic weapon. The outcome of this case remains unclear.
Following the incident, Trump’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement saying, “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity.” Trump himself reassured supporters by posting, “Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” in a fundraising message, as reported by AFP.
This event occurred just weeks after another assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. In that incident, a sniper fired a shot that grazed Trump’s ear. The suspect was later shot and killed by authorities.
