A man armed with an AK-style rifle attempted to breach the perimeter of Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida golf course on Sunday, prompting U.S. Secret Service agents to open fire, according to three law enforcement officials. The former president, who was playing a round of golf at the time, is safe and unharmed.
The suspect fled the scene in an SUV after dropping the weapon and was later apprehended by police in a neighbouring county. Law enforcement recovered the AK-style firearm near the golf course, but no injuries were reported.
The incident is the latest in a series of security threats surrounding Trump’s presidential campaign. The attempt comes just two months after Trump was shot at during an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, where a bullet grazed his ear. President Joe Biden withdrew from the race shortly after that event.
Trump was playing golf when agents spotted the armed individual near the fifth hole. The Secret Service, which secures the area around Trump with agents, golf carts, and ATVs, moved quickly to intervene. Some areas of the course are visible from the perimeter fence, making Trump vulnerable to outside threats during his rounds of golf.
In response to the latest threat, the White House issued a statement saying President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the situation and were relieved Trump was safe. Harris added in a statement that “violence has no place in America” and expressed her relief for Trump’s safety.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, shared that he had spoken with the former president, who was “in good spirits” following the incident. “Trump is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known,” Graham said.
The suspect was apprehended by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office after a “be on the lookout” alert was issued. According to Sheriff William Snyder, the suspect showed little emotion when stopped and was unarmed at the time of his arrest. The man did not ask why he was being detained, raising further questions about his intent.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates from the Justice Department as the investigation unfolds.
Trump is expected to continue his campaign schedule with a virtual appearance on the social media platform X on Monday night to promote a cryptocurrency project launched by his sons. He is scheduled to return to the campaign trail on Tuesday for a town hall in Michigan, followed by rallies in New York and North Carolina later in the week.
