Shots were fired near former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday while he was playing golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to Trump’s campaign team, the incident unfolded during his outing, raising concerns over his safety, though the former president was not harmed.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, confirmed the event but withheld specific details. Law enforcement authorities have since apprehended a suspect who fled the scene in an SUV and was later arrested in a nearby county. Officials said an AK-style firearm was found at the scene of the shooting, but it remains unclear whether Trump was the intended target.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw discussed the security situation, noting that it would have been much tighter if Trump were still the sitting president.
“The entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement,” Bradshaw explained.
However, he clarified that since Trump is no longer president, security is more limited and based on assessments by the Secret Service.
“I would imagine that the next time he comes to the golf course, there will probably be more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done, and their agents did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw added.
Despite leaving office, former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection. However, the level of security fluctuates depending on threat levels. Trump’s visibility, especially with his ongoing campaign for the presidency, has led to heightened security measures around him. U.S. officials reported that just days before an assassination attempt in July, Trump’s security was increased due to threats on his life from Iran.
The FBI has indicated that this latest event is being treated as an apparent assassination attempt. Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service, said the agency is investigating the “protective incident” in coordination with local police. He also mentioned that more details would be provided during a media briefing.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the incident. In a statement, they expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.
“They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the statement read.