As of Sunday evening, former President Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts. According to the FBI’s Miami field office and the local sheriff’s office, Trump was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a gunman poked a rifle through the golf course fence, about 400 yards away from the former president. Secret Service opened fire before the would-be assassin, later identified as Ryan Routh, could manage a shot. Routh is reported to have dropped his gun and fled the scene. He was arrested later by the nearby Martin County Sheriff’s office.
Regarding Routh’s arrest, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder reported, “He never asked, ‘What is this about?’ Obviously, law enforcement with long rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it.”
Shortly after the FBI declared the incident an “attempted assassination,” Trump issued a statement telling supporters, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” He continued, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again. May God bless you…”
Sunday’s assassination attempt comes two months (almost to the day) after Trump was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. That incident came days after a presidential debate against then-contender and incumbent President Joe Biden, which Trump was largely perceived to have won. Likewise, Sunday’s assassination attempt followed a presidential debate against incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris. Although pundits do not agree that Trump won the debate, Independent and undecided voters have skewed in favor of the former president in the wake of the debate.
In response to news of Sunday’s assassination attempt, Trump’s running mate Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R) remarked, “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
Other Trump allies responded similarly. Neurosurgeon and former Trump cabinet member Dr. Ben Carson said that he and his wife were “relieved” to learn that Trump is safe, and added, “Join us in praying for President Trump and his family’s continued safety and protection.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) visited Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago following the assassination attempt and said that he and his wife “are thanking God for protecting him today — once again. No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) simply said, “Pray for God’s protection over President Trump and his family. Evil is after him.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said, “They tried to assassinate President Trump again today. For the second time. The stakes of this election are literally life or death.” She added, “I’m praying for his safety and all of those around him. I’m thankful for each and everyone that guards his life and his family.” Referring to the recent presidential debate hosted by ABC News, Rep Mike Collins (R-Ga.) commented, “I guess the ABC hit job wasn’t effective enough.”
Tributes came in from overseas, as well. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a friend of Trump’s, posted, “It is clear that President Trump’s life is in danger, until his victory. We are praying for you, Mr. President!” British parliamentarian Nigel Farage, the orchestrator of the Brexit movement and a Trump ally, also posted, “Another attempt on Trump’s life. This is truly appalling.”
Following Sunday’s assassination attempt, Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy SEAL team officer and the founder of private military organization Blackwater, urged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to “assume direct control of the investigation into this attempted assassination…” Referring to the FBI’s failure to thoroughly investigate the shooting in Pennsylvania, which killed father and fireman Corey Comperatore and wounded two others, Prince added, “Tell the Feds to wait in line until Florida resources have done a thorough and transparent look into all the evidence. … Time for Florida to save the day especially since this attempt happened only 300m from the State Forensics Lab.”
In a video interview, Prince said that DeSantis must demand a coequal investigation run by the state of Florida. Addressing DeSantis directly, Prince said, “Now is the time to prove the Florida Bureau of Investigation’s merit in cracking this crime and not brushing it under the rug like what happened in Pennsylvania. … Flex up and see that this is done properly.”
Just hours later, DeSantis announced, “The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club.” He explained, “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.”
Like Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Trump in Pennsylvania, 58-year-old Routh has been an outspoken opponent of the former president. In a social media post earlier this year, Routh alleged that a second Trump administration would enslave Americans, writing, “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose. We cannot afford to fail. The world is counting on us to show the way.” Routh, who was profiled by the New York Times last year, has been a vocal supporter of the continuing conflict in Ukraine and served in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion fighting against Russia.
Conservative commentators and influencers have accused the Biden-Harris administration and mainstream media outlets of using dehumanizing terminology against Trump in an effort to radicalize people like Crooks and Routh.
For example, Lester Holt of NBC News said on air on Sunday, “Today’s apparent assassination attempt comes amid increasingly fierce rhetoric on the campaign trail itself. Mr. Trump, his running mate J.D. Vance, continue to make baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio,” which Holt said resulted in bomb threats from anti-immigration activists.
Senator Hawley responded, “Wait a minute — so TRUMP is responsible for the people trying to kill him? Are you insane?” Posting a video clip from Sunday of MSNBC anchors and guests calling on the Trump campaign to “tone down the rhetoric,” reporter and author Mike Cernovich quipped, “MSNBC radicalizes mass shooters and then blames Trump.”
S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.
