President Donald Trump issued a defiant statement following an assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump reassured his supporters, saying, “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!” He added, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”
The shooting occurred when a gunman, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a GoPro camera, targeted Trump. According to CNN, the Secret Service returned fire, and the suspect fled the scene. Authorities later apprehended a suspect in Martin County, which is north of Palm Beach County.
The FBI is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that the agency, along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is looking into the details of the shooting.
CNN reported that law enforcement recovered a semi-automatic rifle and a backpack at the scene. The presence of a GoPro camera suggests that the gunman might have intended to record the attack.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the situation. The White House expressed relief that Trump is safe and assured that Biden and Harris will receive regular updates.
Trump previously faced a violent attack in July during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was injured but survived. The incident resulted in one fatality and two injuries, leading to increased scrutiny of security measures and the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
