FBI says there appeared to be an assassination attempt on Trump at his Florida golf course

Trump campaign co-managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles shared an update with the campaign staff regarding today's incident, in which they said "an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump" for the second time in two months.

LaCivita and Wiles said no one was injured and that Trump, as well as everyone who was with him, is safe.  

"This is not a matter that we take lightly," they said in the memo. "Your safety is always our top priority."

They called on staffers to "remain vigilant" and to "be observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness."  

"As we enter the last 50 days of President Trump’s campaign, we must remember that we will only be able Save America from those who seek to destroy it by working together as one team," the memo said. "President Trump and Senator Vance expect the best from us, and we must perform every day."

The man in custody in connection with the incident was vocal about U.S. support for Ukraine and has a long criminal and civil court history, including a conviction for possessing a machine gun.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was taken into custody after shots were fired at Trump International Golf Club, three senior law enforcement sources said. In 2002, court records show, he was convicted of possessing a weapon of mass destruction — the machine gun.

In that case, a man named Ryan Routh, 36 at the time, allegedly led authorities on a vehicle chase before he holed up at a roofing company in Greensboro, North Carolina, according to an account at the time by the Greensboro News & Record.

After the 2002 arrest, authorities said they found the suspect in possession of a fully automatic machine gun, according to the Greensboro News & Record report. The arrest coincides with North Carolina criminal court records that include Routh’s conviction for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

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In his first statement on Truth Social about today's incident, Trump thanked everyone for their concern and well-wishes and called it "an interesting day."

He specifically thanked the Secret Service, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw "and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots" and "all of Law Enforcement" for "the incredible job done today" keeping him safe.

"The job done was absolutely outstanding. I am very proud to be an American!" Trump wrote in all capital letters.

One person is in custody after shots were fired today in what the FBI is calling an apparent second “attempted assassination” of Trump.

Now, his campaign and the Harris campaign are reacting. NBC News’ Hallie Jackson has more.

Harris condemned political violence after the apparent assassination attempt. 

“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” she said in a statement.

“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission,” the statement concluded.

The suspect in the FBI's custody said in a June 2022 video interview with Newsweek Romania that he was in Ukraine to help recruit people to the war effort.

Routh said that he was in Ukraine originally to help fight but that ge was 56 years old and had no fighting experience and was subsequently turned down. He said he stayed in Kyiv afterward to promote projects to support the army.

"Plan B was to come here to Kyiv and promote getting more people here," Routh said in the interview. "You know, we need thousands and thousands and thousands of people here fighting with the Ukrainians."

Routh said the world was at a "critical juncture" in the war, which he called a struggle of good versus evil.

"This is the most important thing going on in the world today, so sitting around and letting life go on as normal, and complaining about gas prices and complaining about, you know, your luxury life and whatever country you live in is unacceptable as human beings," he said.

Routh's apparent Facebook profile, which has since been deleted, includes posts trying to recruit people to fight in Ukraine.

The man in the FBI's custody was dedicated to helping enlist foreign soldiers to Ukraine but was "frustrated" with obstacles he faced in trying to achieve that, according to Semafor.

Semafor interviewed Routh last year. According to the news site, Routh was one of several American volunteers who helped bring foreign troops to aid the war effort in Ukraine against Russia.

Police released images of the rifle that was found along with a backpack and a camera near Trump's Florida golf course.

Though the FBI is investigating the attack, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on X that the state of Florida will conduct its own investigation.

"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," DeSantis wrote.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the attempt on Trump's life today, he said in a statement released by the White House.

Biden commended the Secret Service and law enforcement and said he was "relieved" that Trump was unharmed.

"There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened," Biden wrote.

"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," he said.

The state attorney for Palm Beach County, Dave Aronberg, said tonight that the federal government will take over the case against the suspect in the second attempt on Trump's life and that the Justice Department will file charges.  

Aronberg told MSNBC's Ali Velshi and Ayman Mohyeldin that he does not believe the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, would have had to have fired a shot to be charged with attempted assassination. 

Aronberg said his understanding was that Routh was “lying in wait” for Trump and that the Secret Service spotted him in the brush. He said Routh aimed at Secret Service agents and was fired on.  

Aronberg added that Routh was “pretty quiet” and “pretty compliant” with law enforcement when he was pulled over. He said he wasn’t sure whether Routh has said anything since he was taken into custody. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on X this evening saying he spent hours with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence today and called him "unstoppable."

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have taken to X to praise the Secret Service and to condemn political violence following the second attempt on Trump’s life today.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called for a "thorough, swift, and transparent" investigation by the FBI and the Secret Service in a post, saying he was "very grateful President Trump is safe after another attempted assassination attempt. There is no place for political violence in our country, and those responsible for it must be held to account."

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote on X he was grateful for all the law enforcement personnel involved, who he said averted a “catastrophe,” adding, “I can’t believe I’m having to say this once again this election cycle: there is absolutely no place for violence in politics."

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also thanked "the brave Secret Service agents and local law enforcement members in Florida" on X and called for Republicans and Democrats to “stand together united against extremism and political violence of any kind.”

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, who is on his way to Florida following the second attempt on Trump’s life, briefed the House task force, as well as top senators, about the first assassination attempt against Trump last week. 

The two-hour briefing, his first with the task force, “gave members a baseline understanding of the Secret Service’s role at the July 13th rally,” a spokesperson for the committee said. 

As he left the briefing, ranking member Jason Crow, D-Colo., was asked whether he was confident that Trump and Harris are safe.

“Well, we’re working to help restore the confidence of the American people, and that’s actually one of the things that this task force takes very seriously. ... You don’t have to be a Democrat or Republican to condemn violence and to say that this never should have happened. It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation is.”

Trump said in a new fundraising email that his "resolve is stronger than ever after another attempt on my life."

"I will never slow down. I will never give up. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!" he wrote.

"I thank God every day for having supporters like you on my side. On November 5th, WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

In an earlier fundraising email, Trump said he was "safe and well," adding, "Nobody was hurt. Thank God."

Hours before the second attempt to assassinate Trump, the New Hampshire Libertarian Party issued a post on X that appeared to support the idea of assassinating Harris.

"Anyone who murders Kamala Harris would be an American hero," the account wrote in a since-deleted post. In a follow-up post, the party wrote that it deleted its original post "because we don’t want to break the terms of this website we agreed to."

"It’s a shame that even on a 'free speech' website that libertarians cannot speak freely," the post said, adding that the political group was "truly the most oppressed minority."

However, the party did not cease its incendiary rhetoric on the website, later posting a poll asking, "Would it have been good or bad if at least one governor who instituted lockdowns had been shot?" seemingly referring to Covid-era lockdowns.

The House task force investigating the first attempt to assassinate Trump said it is seeking a Secret Service briefing on today's incident.

"We have requested a briefing with the U.S. Secret Service about what happened and how security responded," the task force's chairman, Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and ranking member, Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement. "We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms. The Task Force will share updates as we learn more.”

The House formed the committee, made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats, to investigate the attempt on Trump's life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.

Acting Director Ronald Rowe is headed to Florida following today’s incident, two Secret Service officials said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that he was briefed by Rowe and that he "applauded" the Secret Service "for their quick response to ensure former President Trump’s safety."

“There is no place in this country for political violence of any kind," Schumer said. "The perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The person in custody whom the Secret Service shot at while he was in possession of a semiautomatic rifle is Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter said.

According to public records, Routh lives in Kaaawa, Hawaii, but previously lived in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, said in a statement on X that he and his wife, Gwen Walz, are glad Trump is safe and echoed Harris' statement that violence has no place in America.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said security was limited because Trump is not the sitting president, but he added that the Secret Service “provided exactly what the protection should have been.”

A call first came into the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office about shots fired near Trump's golf course at round 1:30 p.m. ET, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters.

The Secret Service said one of its agents was scouting the course ahead of Trump when a rifle was spotted in the bushes outside the course. Agents opened fire at the suspect; it is unclear whether the suspect fired a weapon.

An eyewitness spotted the suspect, who has not been identified, fleeing from the bushes in a black Nissan, Bradshaw told reporters. The witness reached out to law enforcement with photos of the vehicle and its license plate that were used in an alert to other agencies to be on the lookout.

Authorities recovered an AR-style rifle with a scope in the bushes, as well as a GoPro camera, Bradshaw said.

Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said on X that he will be "hugging [his] kids extra tight tonight" after what the FBI called an apparent attempted assassination of Trump.

The FBI says it is investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump” after shots were fired near where he was golfing.

An eyewitness who spotted the suspect fleeing from bushes outside Trump's golf course took photos of his car, allowing law enforcement to dispatch an alert, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters.

A rifle with a scope and a GoPro camera were found in the bushes where the suspect was initially seen, Bradshaw said.

An alert to "be on the lookout" was immediately dispatched, and a license plate reader led authorities to the suspect, he said.

The Secret Service confirmed previous reporting that its agents fired at the suspect, which occurred when an agent scouting ahead of Trump spotted a the weapon in the bushes.

Authorities could not confirm whether the suspect fired the weapon. The FBI said it is leading the investigation.

Trump is now back at Mar-a-Lago following his evacuation from his golf course, a source familiar with the matter said.

A source familiar with the matter who just got off the phone with Trump said the former president was talking about his golf game and kept saying he was glad he is alive. Trump was golfing with real estate investor Steve Witkoff, a friend and donor.

While Trump was not scheduled to speak to the media today or tomorrow, that could now change.

Trump sent out a campaign email saying he is “safe and well” and thanking supporters for their well wishes.

The FBI said it is responding to the Trump security incident, adding that it is investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.”

Authorities have not yet confirmed that the suspect in custody fired any shots. Four senior law enforcement sources told NBC News that Secret Service agents fired their weapons after seeing someone with a weapon potentially aiming, though it is not clear where the person was aiming.

Law enforcement officials have confirmed that a person is in custody and a rifle has been recovered after Secret Service agents fired shots near where Trump was golfing.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office detained the suspect on the northbound area of Interstate 95.

The sheriff's department said in a Facebook post that it stopped a vehicle based on an alert to "be on the lookout" from Palm Beach County, and it shared photos of the detainment.

Trump has left the golf course in his motorcade more than an hour after the first report of a security incident at his Palm Beach property, a source familiar confirmed to NBC News.

A Trump fundraising email was sent out alerting his supporters that he is safe and thanking them for their support.

"There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!" the email said.

His statement went on to say that "nothing" would slow him down and that he would "NEVER SURRENDER!"

Interstate 95, the main highway that crosses Florida, was shut down in Palm Beach near Trump's golf course.

An AR-style rifle was found outside the fence line of Trump's golf course, and authorities believe it belongs to the person who has been detained, four senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.

The sources said that the Secret Service spotted someone it believes may have been aiming and that agents fired gunshots in response.

It's unclear where the person may have been aiming and whether the person ever fired the weapon, the source said.

Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed she has been briefed on the security incident at Trump's Palm Beach golf course, writing on X that she is glad he is safe.

"Violence has no place in America," she wrote.

Senior law enforcement officials say one person is in custody and is being questioned after gunshots were heard near Trump while he was golfing.

A person has been detained and is being questioned about the reports that shots were fired near Trump's golf course, three senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.

The Secret Service is expected to be at a news conference being held by the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, the agency's spokesperson said.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are aware of the "security incident" involving Trump at his Palm Beach golf course, the White House said in a statement.

"They are relieved to know that he is safe," the statement said. "They will be kept regularly updated by their team."

The Trump campaign said Trump is safe after possible gunshots rang out in his vicinity on his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

It is still unconfirmed whether if shots were, in fact, fired.

A source familiar with the matter said Trump was immediately rushed to a safety and is safe.

In a statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said, “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.”

The Secret Service said in a statement: “The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 p.m. The former president is safe.”

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