Trump safe after "attempted assassination" on Florida golf course

KYODO
September 15, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is safe after an apparent assassination attempt in Florida on Sunday, reports said, with the incident coming two months after the Republican presidential nominee was lightly injured in a shooting at a campaign rally.

Trump's campaign office said gunshots were fired near Trump when he was playing golf. The Secret Service said agents opened fire on a person who was on the perimeter of the premises before 2 p.m.

Police officers direct traffic near Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 15, 2024. (AP/Kyodo)

The Associated Press said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation believes Trump was the subject of another "attempted assassination" and that the agents fired at a man who was pointing a rifle with a scope as Trump was on the course.

Authorities detained "a person of interest" in connection with the incident and seized a rifle, according to the reports.

Trump said in a message to his supporters, "I am safe and well, and no one was hurt."

Local investigators in Florida said the suspect was some 370 to 460 meters from Trump when agents fired.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles on Sept. 13, 2024, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. (Getty/Kyodo)
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic rival in the presidential election, are relieved to hear Trump is safe.

On July 13, Trump was injured in the right ear in a shooting incident during the campaign rally in Pennsylvania.