Donald Trump assassination attempt: What we know so far

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was rushed to safety on Sunday when a man attempted to assassinate him at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the former president’s Mar-a-Lago resort is located.
This assassination attempt on Trump occurs almost two months after the previous one. The earlier incident happened in July during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In that case, Trump narrowly escaped being shot in the head. He was grazed by a bullet on his ear.
However, a nearby supporter was struck by the bullet and died.
Details about the latest gunman are still emerging, but the US media has identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh. Here’s what we know so far.
The assassination attempt took place at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, located about 15 minutes from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
The gunman was first seen by Secret Service agents who were clearing holes ahead of where Trump was playing. The gunman, who was between 300 and 500 yards away, was spotted with an AK-47-style assault rifle.
Agents noticed the muzzle of the gun sticking through the bushes.
Upon spotting the gunman, the agents fired at least four rounds, according to a report by The Guardian.
After being spotted by the agents, Ryan Wesley Routh, the gunman, dropped his weapon, a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro device before fleeing the scene in a black Nissan car, confirmed Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw during a news conference.
Agents managed to capture photos of the car and its licence plate, and authorities later arrested the suspect, Ryan Routh, in Martin County, approximately 61 km from Trump’s golf course, according to the BBC.
After his arrest, Routh appeared calm.
Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old Democrat supporter, was arrested on Sunday after what the FBI called an “apparent assassination attempt” against Trump. Routh, who owns a small construction company in Hawaii, had publicly criticised Trump on social media, according to CNN.
His son, Oran Routh, described his father as a “loving, caring, and honest, hard-working man.”
Routh had previously claimed to be a strong supporter of Ukraine and even travelled to Kyiv to fight in the ongoing war against Russia. He mentioned that, once in Kyiv, he helped recruit individuals to join the conflict.
Routh also self-published a 291-page book where he expressed his disappointment with the war in Ukraine, calling it “impossible to win”. In the book, he also discussed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and the rising military tension in Taiwan due to pressure from China.
CBS News reported that Ryan Routh had a criminal history, facing charges and being convicted of multiple felonies in Guilford County, North Carolina, between 2002 and 2010. His charges included carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, driving with a revoked licence, and a hit-and-run involving a motor vehicle.
Routh attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University before relocating to Hawaii in 2018, according to reports.
Although a Democrat supporter, Routh had also backed Republican candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley before they dropped out of the race.
In his social media posts, he urged President Biden to focus his campaign on preserving “America’s democracy and freedom”, while accusing Trump of seeking to “enslave Americans under a master”.
One of Routh’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) from April 22 slammed Trump, using the slogan, “Democracy is on the ballot, and we cannot afford to lose”, which echoes statements made by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite the assassination attempt, Donald Trump was unharmed.
In a message to his supporters shortly after the incident, Trump assured them that he was safe and declared that he “will never surrender”.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL,” Trump said in an email.
President Joe Biden addressed the incident on X, writing, “My team has briefed me regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former president Trump today. A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe.”
“I am relieved that the former President is unharmed,” Biden added.
“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,” Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, wrote on X.
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, expressed relief as well, posting, “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public, and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed similar sentiments, writing, “Gwen and I are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe. Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation.”