Former President Donald Trump is safe after what the FBI said appeared to be “an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
The episode came two months after Trump was wounded during an attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Law enforcement officials said there had a shooting on the grounds of the Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach and a campaign spokesperson said there had been gunshots in Trump’s “vicinity.”
A spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said a “person of interest” had been detained. The Secret Service said it would release additional information soon.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity,” Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign’s communications director, said in a statement. “No further details at this time.”
Teri Barbera, a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that a shooting took place “on the grounds” of the golf Course while Trump was present.
“The intent right now is unknown,” Barbera added. A news conference was expected this afternoon.
The U.S. Secret Service said that it was investigating “a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump” in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that occurred shortly before 2 p.m.
“The former president is safe,” the Secret Service said. “We will have more details soon.”
A White House official said in a statement: “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.”
In an email Sunday afternoon from the Trump campaign, the former president confirmed “there were gunshots in my vicinity.”
“Before rumors start spiraling out of control,” he wrote, “I wanted you to hear this first: I am safe and well! Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
On July 13, Trump, the Republican nominee for president, survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. The suspected gunman and a spectator were killed, and a bullet grazed the candidate’s ear.
Trump attended a three-hour fundraiser late Saturday afternoon at Salt Lake City International Airport.
