By Elaina Batista, Contributor
On Sept. 15, as Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach, Florida club, there was a second attempt made on his life. The FBI identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, who camped outside the golf course for 12 hours with food and a rifle, according to NBC News. Secret Service agents spotted Routh’s firearm poking through a bush approximately 400 to 500 yards away from where Trump was playing while they were walking the perimeter, as reported by ABC News. A member of the secret service assigned to Trump’s detail opened fire upon noticing Routh. The suspect managed to escape, but was later apprehended in a nearby county. Acting Director of the Secret Service Ron Rowe Jr. confirmed that the suspect did not open fire and that Trump’s location had not been made available to the public. As of now, Routh is being held on gun-related charges and has not been charged with trying to kill the former president, per NBC.
The White House was briefed about the situation at hand, and according to the ABC News article, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were relieved to hear that Trump was safe. Later that day, Trump stated that he was “SAFE AND WELL!” in a fundraiser email, as reported by the Economist. Harris quickly took to X, tweeting “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The motives of the potential shooter are still unclear and according to the Economist, most of the suspect’s activity on social media reflected partisan views.
This attempt comes just nine weeks after the first on Trump’s life, which occurred at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. According to a press release from the FBI, two people were injured and one was killed in the incident. The deceased individual was identified as 50-year-old state policeman Corey Compertore, according to CNN. The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter. Crooks fired eight rounds from a warehouse roof less than 500 feet away from where Trump was standing, according to the New York Times, including one that hit the former president in the ear before a Secret Service sniper killed him.
Following Donald Trump’s first assassination attempt came the resignation of the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle. Cheatle tendered her resignation after coming under scrutiny for the lack of security at the rally in Pennsylvania. As stated by CNN, she wrote in her resignation letter that “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director.”
As for the most recent polls, Harris and Trump remain neck-and-neck, as shown by RealClear Politics. As of Thursday, Sept. 19, the national New York Times/Siena poll has Trump and Harris tied, both with 47% and Fox News has Harris leading by two points, with the VP polling at 50% and Trump at 48%.