Donald Trump is “safe” after multiple gunshots were fired near his golf course in Florida. A spokesperson for the West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office said no one was injured, and the golf course was put on lockdown as a precaution. Trump had just returned to Florida this weekend from the West Coast which included a rally in Las Vegas on Friday nights and a fundraiser in Utah. The FBI later said Sunday on it “is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.”
According to a statement from Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung, the former president was golfing at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday, Sept. 15, when the incident occurred. Cheung said: “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.”
According to law enforcement sources, Trump, 78, was taken to safety by the Secret Service after agents opened fire on a man who was spotted with what may have been a gun while the former president was playing golf. A member of Trump’s Secret Service detail spotted a suspicious individual on the golf course and opened fire when the agents saw what appeared to be the barrel of a gun. The suspect fled the scene, jumping into a car after he was engaged by Secret Service agents. A car with the same license plate number was stopped in Martin County, north of the golf course, and one individual was taken into custody, the officials said. An AK-47 style weapon and scope were recovered at the scene by the golf course. No motive has been determined at this time.
Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a statement: “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 2 p.m.” He also stated that Trump “is safe” and added that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office “will have more details soon.”
Trump wrote in a fundraising email Sunday afternoon: “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!”
The White House said in a statement: “The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team.” In a separate post on X, Harris said, “I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The shooting took place two months after Trump was rushed off the stage after being injured at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, which has since been called an assassination attempt.
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