The Trump International Golf Club had been noted as a potential target for attempts on Donald Trump's life.[9] The incident occurred 64 days after a previous assassination attempt on Trump at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, in which Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear by a sniper.[10] Law enforcement officials said that the golf course's perimeter was not fully secured as Trump was not an incumbent president.[11] The Secret Service did not search the perimeter of the golf course, as Trump's visit there was not a scheduled event.[12]
Incident
On September 15, 2024, Donald Trump was golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach,[13] with his friend and donor Steve Witkoff.[14] Trump was walking along the fifth hole when a Secret Service agent conducted a sweep of the sixth hole ahead of him for any threats. During the sweep, a man was seen aiming a rifle at the agent while hiding in shrubs approximately 400 yards (370m) away.[15] The position in which the man had been is well-known as a spot frequently used by paparazzi to photograph Trump at his golf course.[16] At 1:31p.m. EDT[17] (approximately 12hours after the gunman's 1:59a.m. arrival),[18][19] the agent, having seen the rifle barrel move,[3] fired at the man, who dropped his weapon and fled in a vehicle.[20] After the shot was fired, Trump was escorted off the course by his Secret Service protective detail.[19] The man did not have a clear line of sight on Trump and did not fire his gun.[15][21] A witness took a photo of the suspect's vehicle, assisting authorities in tracking it down.[22] The golf course was locked down shortly after the incident,[6] and no injuries were reported.[23][24]
After the gunman fled the scene, a "be on the lookout" was issued to law enforcement with details about the suspect's car, a black Nissan SUV. At 2:22 p.m, after pulling over the vehicle on Interstate 95 in Martin County, Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies Nicholas Shaw and Gedeon Brenovil forced the driver out of the car and arrested him at gunpoint.[25][26] According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the driver was detained as a person of interest while he was driving northbound on Interstate 95 from Palm Beach County.[27] The sheriff's units "waited [for] a while" to stop the vehicle to avoid engaging in a high-speed chase. An SKS-style rifle[19] with a removed serial number, a scope, two backpacks containing ceramic tiles that could deflect a bullet, a plastic bag containing food, and a GoPro camera, were recovered at the scene.[15][19][28] The driver was unarmed at the time of his arrest.[29]
Aftermath
After Routh's arrest, Donald Trump contacted the Martin County Sheriff's Office and requested that those involved in Routh's apprehension to join him at Mar-a-Lago so he could personally thank them for their work. Each deputy signed a pair of black handcuffs and gave them to Trump. Lieutenant Travis Dykes stated that there could have been a potential disaster if the police department didn't work together as a group. Sheriff William Snyder told WPTV that he "could not be more proud of his crew."[25]
Shortly after the incident, authorities identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old Hawaii resident who lived for most of his life in Greensboro, North Carolina.[30]
Routh had a history of political activity online and offline, with his political engagement dating back to at least 1996.[31] Voting records showed that he did not vote in the 2016 elections,[32] but in a 2020 Twitter post, he claimed to have voted for Trump in 2016 and later regretted it.[33] In a self-published ebook in 2023, he wrote about his supposed previous support for Trump, saying, "I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake."[34] He reached out to Iran in his book, saying they should feel free to assassinate Trump for the United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as well as Routh himself for supporting Trump in the past.[34][35] Routh condemned the January 6 Capitol attack as being "perpetrated by Donald Trump and his undemocratic posse".[31]
Routh had multiple prior criminal charges, including a 2002 conviction for "possessing a weapon of mass death and destruction" after barricading himself in a building with a fully automatic weapon. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation and accept recommended treatments. He had over one hundred criminal counts filed against him in North Carolina, which included driving violations and possession of stolen items. Routh typically received parole or probation for his offenses, with no record of time that he was in prison.[31][37][35]
Pre-trial
After being arrested as the potential suspect, Routh was charged with two offenses: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed.[38] Less than a day after the arrest, he was seen smiling and laughing with his lawyer.[39] Footage of his arrest was also released to the public.[40] Routh was charged on September 24 with attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, as well as "assaulting a federal officer" and "possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence."[41]
On September 23, 2024, the Department of Justice published a letter written by Routh several months prior to his arrest, stating:[3][42][43]
Dear World, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job. Everyone across the globe from the youngest to the oldest know that Trump is unfit to be anything, much less a U.S president. U.S presidents must at bare minimum embody the moral fabric that is America and be kind, caring and selfless and always stand for humanity. Trump fails to understand any of-
An unnamed witness had contacted law enforcement on September 18, stating that Routh had dropped off a box containing the letter at his house several months before the incident. The witness opened the box after the incident.[3] According to authorities, the letter indicates that Routh may have planned the assassination attempt for months, and simultaneously acknowledged months in advance that he might fail.[44] The Department of Justice's decision to publicize the note would be criticized by former US Attorney General William Barr, as it told people to 'finish the job' of killing Trump with a cash award, which could lead to potential future assassination attempts and plots.[45]
On September 30, Routh pleaded not guilty to all five counts brought against him in federal court.[47][48] The next day, Cannon set a preliminary trial date of November 18.[49]
On October 17, Routh's lawyers asked Cannon to recuse herself to avoid the appearance of bias in favor of Trump.[46] However, Cannon refused to step down.[50] As a result, Routh's trial date was moved to February 10, 2025.[8]
On November 4, one day before the 2024 United States presidential election, Routh sent a letter to a local newsroom stating that if Trump wins the election, it will mark "the end of Democracy and the beginning of a Civil War" and that Trump "will not let go of the power given to him." He also begged the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to "help lead the country the way to Democracy." Prosecutors noted that Routh's handwriting of the letter matched the same handwriting as the alleged note written months prior discussing his failure to assassinate Trump, which confirmed Routh wrote the note.[51] Upon hearing that Trump won the presidential election, he urged the country "to remove the power of our military by the President and place it with Congress before January," and would proceed to call Trump a "dictator."[52]
On November 26, Routh addressed a note to the newsroom Politico. In the note, he would criticize both the Republican party and the Democratic party, claiming they do not let any independent politicians get recognized in any race.[52] Routh would also compare himself to Thomas Matthew Crooks, the perpetrator of Trump's previous assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, claiming they were both "ready to die for freedom and democracy." At multiple points, he contemplated the prospect of another "civil war." Prior to sending the note, Routh told a prison guard who believed Routh was a Democrat that the independent politicians were the better candidates.[53] He did not explicitly confess to attempting to assassinate Trump, referring to himself as the "Trump Alleged Shooter".[53]
On December 11, Routh's legal team announced they were considering giving Routh an insanity defense. Public defenders claimed Routh had met with mental health experts and jail mental health professionals at least twice, who all called him "delusional." Prosecutors also confirmed that Routh had written up to 40 letters to national news outlets to try and convince them he was innocent. The letters were intercepted before being received. Routh’s attorneys requested for the trial to be delayed until December 2025.[54]
On the day of the alleged assassination attempt, Routh's motive was described as unknown.[27] Shortly after the incident, law enforcement linked the license plates for the Nissan SUV used by Routh to a 2012 Ford truck that was reported as stolen. The witness who initially spotted the fleeing suspect identified Routh after he was taken into custody. Data from his cell phone showed that he had arrived at the golf course at 1:59a.m., where he had waited for roughly 12 hours.[19]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to open a state-level investigation into the shooting.[55]
On September 12, merely three days before the assassination attempt, Routh exchanged messages with British-trained commandos from Afghanistan about recruitment to the Russo-Ukrainian War over the instant messaging app WhatsApp. Routh's account on the app consisted of several discussions with special forces from Afghanistan about how to get to Ukraine to fight in the war. As of November 2024, all of the chat logs on Routh's WhatsApp account are being investigated by The Independent and investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports.[56]
On September 24, FBI agents found documents that contained a handwritten list of venues where the former President had appeared or was expected to be present, dated in August through October. They also found out that two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra that Routh drove the day of the assassination attempt showed that on multiple days and times from August 18 to September 15, Routh stalked Trump near his golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence.[57][52]
Evidence from the alleged assassination attempt
The SKS semi-automatic 7.62x39 caliber rifle allegedly used by Routh in the assassination attempt
The backpack and rifle allegedly used by Routh in the assassination attempt
The rifle allegedly used by Routh, shown to have its serial number missing
CCTV footage of Routh surrendering to the police
Police body-cam footage of Routh's apprehension
Mapping of the assassination attempt
The note Routh wrote months prior
Reactions
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's opponent in the 2024 presidential election, were briefed on the incident.[23] The White House released a statement saying: "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."[27] In a separate statement, Harris said: "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."[6]
Shortly after the shooting, Elon Musk, executive chairman of Twitter, quote-retweeted a post on the site which asked "Why they want [sic] to kill Donald Trump?", responding that "no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala". Although he initially defended his wording, Musk deleted the tweet following widespread condemnation, claiming the next day that his remarks were intended as a joke. The White House issued a statement calling Musk's comment "irresponsible", writing that "violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about".[58][59] The Secret Service additionally opened an investigation into Musk over his remarks.[60][needs update]
Mar-a-Lago is a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida. It spans 126 rooms and 62,500 sq ft (5,810 m2) built on 17 acres of land. Since 1985, it has been owned by United States president-elect Donald Trump, who lives on the estate as his primary residence.
The Trump Organization is an American privately owned conglomerate owned by Donald Trump. It serves as the holding company for all of Trump's business ventures and investments, with around 250 of its affiliates and subsidiaries using the Trump name. Donald Trump joined the organization in 1968, began leading it in 1971, renamed it around 1973, and handed off its leadership to his children in 2017 after he won the 2016 United States presidential election.
Trump National Golf Club is a private golf club located on Lamington Road in Bedminster, New Jersey. Approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City in Somerset County, it is owned and operated by The Trump Organization.
Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor, landlord, and founder of the Witkoff Group. In 2024, he was appointed as Special Envoy to the Middle East by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump International Golf Club is a private 27-hole golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was designed by Jim Fazio, who was given a budget of over $40 million, and was opened in 1999. This venue was Donald Trump's first golf course property.
The 2024 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. In the presidential election, former Republican President Donald Trump, seeking a non-consecutive second term, defeated the incumbent Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans also gained control of the Senate and held narrow control of the House of Representatives, winning a government trifecta for the first time since 2016.
Donald Trump is closely associated with the sport of golf. As a real estate developer, Trump began acquiring and constructing golf courses in 1999. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide through his holding company, the Trump Organization. Courses owned by Trump have been selected to host various PGA and LPGA events, including the 2022 PGA Championship, although the PGA terminated this in the aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack. A spokesman for the Trump Organization said that "This is a breach of a binding contract and they have no right to terminate the agreement".
Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 5, 2024. The Republican Party's ticket—Donald Trump, who was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, and JD Vance, the junior U.S. senator from Ohio—defeated the Democratic Party's ticket—Kamala Harris, the incumbent vice president, and Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota. Trump and Vance are scheduled to be inaugurated as the 47th president and the 50th vice president on January 20, 2025, after their formal election by the Electoral College.
Elon Musk is the CEO or owner of multiple companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp, and has expressed many views on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from politics to science.
Donald Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, announced his campaign for the 2024 U.S. presidential election on November 15, 2022. After he won a landslide victory in the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, Trump was generally described as being the Republican Party's presumptive nominee. He was officially nominated on July 15, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, when he also announced JD Vance, a junior U.S. Senator from Ohio, as the nominee for vice president. On November 5, 2024, Trump and Vance were elected president and vice president of the United States. Trump is the oldest person to be elected to the presidency and will be the oldest president in American history by the end of his term. He will also become the second president to serve a non-consecutive term after Grover Cleveland.
The 2024 United States presidential election in Florida was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Florida voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. The state of Florida has 30 electoral votes in the Electoral College, following reapportionment due to the 2020 United States census in which the state gained a seat.
Truth Social is an alt-tech social media platform owned by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), an American media and technology company majority-owned by 45th and 47th U.S. president Donald Trump. It has been called a "Twitter clone" that competes with Parler, Gab, and Mastodon in trying to provide an alternative to Twitter and Facebook. Truth Social uses Mastodon as its backend.
Donald Trump, the 45th president and current president-elect of the United States, has been involved in security incidents during his presidential campaigns and his first term in office, including assassination threats and attempts. The first known attempt occurred at a campaign rally a few weeks before Trump became the official nominee of the Republican Party in the 2016 presidential election. The most significant incident was an attempt to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally during the 2024 presidential election, which resulted in two deaths and an injury to Trump's ear. Another assassination attempt took place in September 2024 at the Trump International Golf Club.
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump, a former president of the United States and then the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, survived an assassination attempt while speaking at an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear by Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who fired eight rounds from an AR-15–style rifle from the roof of a nearby building. Crooks also killed one audience member and critically injured two others. He was shot and killed seconds later by the United States Secret Service's Counter Sniper Team.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was an American man who attempted to assassinate former U.S. president Donald Trump, who at the time was the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Ronald L. Rowe Jr. is an American law enforcement officer who is currently serving as the acting director of the United States Secret Service. Rowe was appointed to the position after former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in 2024, amidst intense criticism of the Secret Service following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
Ryan Wesley Routh is an American man who allegedly attempted to assassinate 45th U.S. President and the then Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump, on September 15, 2024. Routh's motives are currently under investigation.
Political violence has occurred leading up to the 2024 United States presidential election.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.