Trump attack/ attempted assassination on Trump/ Trump shooting attempt/ Newslooks/ Ryan Wesley Routh/ Newslooks/ Morning Edition/ J. Mansour/ the suspect in the latest apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, appeared briefly in federal court after allegedly brandishing a firearm near Trump’s golf club in Florida. This marks the second attempt on Trump’s life in just two months. U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire, and the suspect fled before being apprehended. Investigations are ongoing.
Trump Assassination Attempt: Federal Court Proceedings Quick Looks:
- Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh appeared in federal court after allegedly targeting Donald Trump.
- Secret Service agents fired at Routh near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach.
- This is the second apparent assassination attempt against Trump in two months.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson demands increased Secret Service protection for Trump.
- FBI and Secret Service investigations are ongoing as Routh’s motive is being determined.
Suspect in Assassination Attempt on Trump Appears in Federal Court
Deep Look:
Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in the second apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in just two months, made his initial appearance in a Florida federal courtroom on Monday. Routh, who was apprehended after allegedly brandishing a firearm near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, is at the center of an ongoing investigation into the latest threat against the Republican presidential nominee.
The incident occurred on Sunday when U.S. Secret Service agents reportedly spotted a person with a firearm near the Mar-a-Lago golf course while Trump was golfing. Agents immediately opened fire, but no one was injured. Routh fled the scene in an SUV but was quickly apprehended by local law enforcement. The suspect’s identity was confirmed by three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.
Routh’s appearance in court lasted only a few minutes, during which he wore a dark blue jail jumpsuit and was shackled at the arms and legs. He showed no visible signs of nervousness as he waited quietly before being led out by U.S. marshals.
This latest assassination attempt comes just nine weeks after Trump was grazed by a bullet during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump, who has been a target of political violence throughout his career, remains unshaken, continuing his presidential campaign in the face of ongoing threats. The former president is expected to resume his schedule with a town hall event in Flint, Michigan, and other appearances across the country later this week.
In response to the recent events, President Joe Biden expressed relief over Trump’s safety, stating, “Thank God the president is OK.” Biden also called for increased resources for the Secret Service, urging Congress to provide more funding to ensure the safety of Trump and other high-profile figures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed Biden’s concerns, demanding heightened protection for Trump. Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” Johnson said, “He’s the most attacked, even more than when he was in the Oval Office.” Johnson, who was en route to visit Trump when the incident occurred, later spent several hours with him and reported that the former president was in “good spirits.”
Johnson’s remarks reflect the growing unease surrounding the political violence targeting Trump. A bipartisan task force, already investigating the July assassination attempt, is closely monitoring the situation and has requested a briefing from the Secret Service. The task force is scheduled to hold a hearing later this month to address the political violence and potential solutions to prevent future incidents.
Meanwhile, new details about Routh’s background have surfaced. The Associated Press previously filmed him in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2022 during a demonstration against Russian aggression. Holding a placard that read “We cannot tolerate corruption and evil for another 50+ years. End Russia for our kids,” Routh appeared at the protest wearing an American flag vest and a scarf and T-shirt in Ukrainian colors. However, Oleksandr Shahuri, a representative of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command, denied any connection between Routh and the Ukrainian military. Shahuri described Routh’s behavior as erratic, stating that the suspect had contacted Ukraine’s International Legion multiple times with “delusional ideas.”
The International Legion was formed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after Russia’s invasion to allow foreign citizens to join the fight against Russian forces. In the wake of the assassination attempt, Zelenskyy expressed his support for Trump’s safety in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Political violence has no place anywhere in the world.”
Trump’s campaign has credited the Secret Service with ensuring the safety of the former president and everyone involved. In an email sent to campaign staff, senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles expressed gratitude for the agents’ swift action, saying, “For the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.” The email also urged campaign staff to remain vigilant and maintain situational awareness as the 2024 presidential race continues.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the latest incident, working closely with the Secret Service to determine Routh’s motive and any potential links to other threats against Trump. Though Routh’s connection to previous political movements remains unclear, his recent actions have heightened concerns about the safety of political figures amid a charged election season.
Congressional leaders from both parties have reiterated their commitment to addressing political violence. In a joint statement, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., co-chairs of the bipartisan task force, said they are thankful for Trump’s safety but remain concerned about the escalation of violent incidents. “We condemn political violence in all its forms and will continue working to ensure the protection of all candidates,” they said.
As the presidential campaign moves forward, the threat of political violence remains a pressing issue, with calls for increased security and vigilance on the rise. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to resume their campaign schedules this week, but the events of the past two months have cast a shadow over what was already one of the most turbulent election cycles in U.S. history.
