The leaders of a bipartisan task force in Congress, commissioned to investigate the first assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, have requested a briefing by the Secret Service following an apparent second attempted attack.
The FBI is now investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of the former US president at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The second attempt comes just nine weeks after Mr Trump survived another attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July.
The task force is monitoring the Florida situation and has requested a briefing by the Secret Service in the wake of the second attack.
“We are thankful that the former president was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” US representatives and members of the task force Mike Kelly and Jason Crow said in a statement.
“The task force will share updates as we learn more.”
Trump campaign leaders have since credited the Secret Service with keeping the former president safe, with advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles writing to staffers on Sunday: “Today, for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.
“Thankfully, no one was injured at the Golf Course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service.”
They added that campaign staffers’ safety is “always our top priority” and asked those receiving the email to “remain vigilant” and “observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness”.
The former president was safe and unharmed after the US Secret Service opened fire at a man pointing an AK-style rifle into the club as Mr Trump was on the course, three law enforcement officials said.
The person dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV, and was later taken into custody in a neighbouring county.
The officials were not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 15, 2024
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene near Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach, two of the officials said. And no injuries were reported.
The incident was the latest jarring moment in a campaign year marked by unprecedented upheaval. It occurred roughly two months after Mr Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.
Only a week later, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
The golf course was partially shut down for Mr Trump as he played, and agents were a few holes ahead of him when they noticed the person with the firearm, the officials said.
There are several areas around the perimeter of the property where golfers are visible from the fence line.
Secret Service agents and officers in golf carts and on ATVs generally secure the area several holes ahead and behind Mr Trump when he golfs.
Agents also usually bring an armoured vehicle onto the course to quickly shelter Mr Trump should a threat arise.
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 Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024
Mr Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast tour that included a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser.
In an email to supporters after the incident, Mr Trump said: “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! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
He returned to Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach where he lives, a person familiar with Mr Trump’s movements told the Associated Press, speaking anonymously.
Late on Sunday, Mr Trump posted a message on social media thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement for keeping him safe, calling them “brave and dedicated Patriots”, adding that it was “certainly an interesting day!”
It was not immediately clear whether the incident would affect his campaign schedule.
The former president has had a stepped-up security footprint since the assassination attempt in July.
When he has been at Trump Tower in New York, a line-up of trucks have parked in a wall outside the building. And at outdoor rallies, he now speaks from behind an enclosure of bulletproof glass.
Mr Trump was returned safely after the incident to his private Mar-a-Lago club, where he resides in neighbouring Palm Beach, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation.
The White House added they were “relieved” to know Mr Trump is safe.
Ms Harris, in a statement, said she was “glad” Mr Trump was safe, adding that “violence has no place in America.”
Mr Biden said he had directed his team to ensure the Secret Service “has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety”.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz said he and his wife, Gwen, are “glad” to hear Trump is safe.
“Violence has no place in our country,” he said in a post on X. “It’s not who we are as a nation.”
In an X post, Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Mr Trump’s top congressional allies, said he had spoken with the former president after the incident and that he was in “good spirits” and was “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
Martin County Sheriff William D Snyder said the suspect was apprehended within minutes of the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office putting out a “very urgent Bolo — or ‘be on the lookout’ alert” detailing the specific vehicle sought, licence plate number and occupant description.
Mr Snyder said his deputies “immediately flooded” northbound I-95, deploying to every exit between the Palm Beach County line to the south and St Lucie County line to the north.
“One of my road patrol units saw the vehicle, matched the tag and we set up on the vehicle,” Mr Snyder said, “We pinched in on the car, got it safely stopped and got the driver in custody.”
Mr Snyder told WPTV that the suspect “was not armed when we took him out of the car”.
The man had a calm, flat demeanour and showed little emotion when he was stopped by police, Mr Snyder said, saying the suspect did not question why he was being pulled over.
“He never asked, ‘what is this about?’ Obviously, law enforcement with long rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it,” Mr Snyder said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates about it, a Justice Department spokeswoman said.
The post by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office indicated the suspect was apprehended near Palm City, Florida, about a 45-mile drive north of Mr Trump’s golf course. Northbound lanes of I-95 were shut down, the sheriff’s office said.
A message sent to campaign officials seeking information on the security status and location of JD Vance, Mr Trump’s running mate, was not immediately returned.
Max Egusquiza, of Palm Beach, described the emergency response outside Mr Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.
“From what I saw five black unmarked SUVs blocked in a grey Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more cop cars flying from nearby streets,” he said.
