Trump safe after suspect in apparent assassination attempt is arrested; officials say he had semi-automatic rifle, scope and GoPro

A man is in custody after shots were fired Sunday afternoon in what the FBI is calling an apparent “attempted assassination” of Donald Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida — two months after an attempt on the former president’s life at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump, who was rushed to safety during the incident, said in a Truth Social post Sunday night that “it was certainly an interesting day!” He also thanked Secret Service and law enforcement, writing in all capital letters that “The job done was absolutely outstanding.”

Nearly 10 hours earlier, shortly before 2 p.m., Trump was playing a round of golf near his Mar-a-Lago home when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle with a scope in the bushes outside the course, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a news conference.

The Secret Service opened fire on the man, who was able to get away, fleeing in a black Nissan. As shots rang out, it was unclear whether the person “was able to take a shot at our agents,” Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, said at the news conference.

A nearby witness took a picture of the car and told authorities, Bradshaw said, helping lead to an arrest. The man taken into custody was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, according to three senior law enforcement officials. His identity was not released during Sunday’s news conference.

An AR-style rifle was recovered from the scene, according to four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the incident. Bradshaw later said the gun was an AK-47 style rifle, and that alongside the fence by the rifle were two backpacks and a GoPro camera.

Authorities’ differing descriptions of the weapon involved remained unresolved Monday morning.

Routh has a long criminal and civil court history, including a conviction for possessing a machine gun in 2002. A person named Ryan Routh lived for decades in North Carolina, and a Ryan Routh recently lived in Hawaii, according to property records. NBC News has not confirmed whether it is the same Routh who was taken into custody Sunday.

Routh previously told other news outlets that he had been in Ukraine to help its war effort. He expressed frustration to Semafor last year about Ukraine’s caution regarding admitting foreign soldiers, and he told Newsweek Romania in June 2022 that he was working to recruit people to the war effort.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, was “safe” after the incident.

Trump left the golf course in his motorcade a couple of hours after the incident and headed back to his Mar-a-Lago resort, a source familiar with the matter said. He has arrived at Mar-a-Lago, a separate source said.

A senior law enforcement official briefed on the incident told NBC News that Trump was on the golf course when what sounded like gunfire was heard in the near distance.

He was between the fifth and sixth holes on the golf course when the incident occurred, the source familiar with the matter said. Trump was golfing with his friend and donor Steve Witkoff, the source said.

Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in an MSNBC interview that the federal government would take over the case and that the Justice Department will file charges.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primaries before he dropped out and endorsed him, said on X that the state would conduct its own investigation, adding that “the people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee.”

Sunday’s incident will not affect Trump’s campaign schedule this week, a source said. Trump’s campaign had announced that he would hold a town hall in Flint, Michigan, on Tuesday. He is also scheduled to speak at campaign events in New York on Wednesday, followed by a speech in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and a rally in North Carolina on Saturday.

The second attempt on Trump’s life comes amid heightened partisan rhetoric and fears over political violence just 51 days before Election Day in a presidential race in which polling consistently indicates a tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle condemned political violence Sunday and expressed gratitude that Trump was safe.

Harris said in a statement that she was “deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today,” adding that she is “thankful” that Trump is safe.

“As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence,” she said. “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”

Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, voiced a similar sentiment on X, saying that “violence has no place in our country.”

President Joe Biden said in a statement that he has been briefed on the situation and that he was “relieved that the former President is unharmed.”

“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” Biden said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that he spent “a few hours” with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday and called him “unstoppable.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on X that “the perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Trump’s campaign team sent a fundraising email Sunday citing the incident. Trump signed the email, which said his “resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life.”

Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said on X that Trump was “in good spirits.”

“Still much we don’t know, but for I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” Vance said.

About two months have passed since bullets whizzed by Trump’s head, one striking him in the ear, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, when a supporter was killed and two people were critically wounded. The Secret Service shot and killed the gunman. During the chaos, Trump was surrounded by Secret Service agents, who escorted him offstage as he pumped his fist and mouthed “fight,” which has become a rallying cry among his supporters.

The Trump campaign and his security apparatus altered campaign rallies after the Butler shooting. While Trump’s team initially planned to stop holding outdoor rallies, the Secret Service ultimately approved bulletproof glass to protect him at outdoor campaign events.

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe is traveling to Florida, according to two Secret Service officials. The previous Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, stepped down after the previous attempt on Trump’s life.

Trump campaign co-managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a memo to staff members Sunday that “for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.”

“President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” they said in the memo, obtained by NBC News.