Trump's close call
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Two assassination attempts in just over two months have turned two of Former President Trump's favorite places — the rally stage and now his West Palm Beach golf club — into the infamous sites of near-national nightmares.
Why it matters: Once again, this unhinged and without-precedent presidential election took a turn for the worst.
The big picture: Trump is safe. But this latest attempt on his life — the second in 65 days — will be another test for America, its people, its institutions and its democracy.
- This election year has been home to America's worst political violence in almost a half-century, and it's only mid-September. The danger of copy-cat wannabe assassins or another Jan. 6 is real.
- In an ominous warning at a press conference yesterday, one Secret Service agent declared: "We live in dangerous times."
The nation's top four Democratic leaders — President Biden, Vice President Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — each released a statement condemning political violence.
- Biden added: "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."
Zoom in: An apparent assailant armed with an AK-style gun was spotted sticking his rifle through a chain-link fence a few holes ahead of where Trump was playing.
- Secret Service agents opened fire as the suspect fled, leaving behind two backpacks, the gun, a scope and a GoPro. It's unclear if the assailant fired any shots.
- The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii, was taken into custody on I-95 about 45 miles north of Trump International Golf Club.
- A witness who took a picture of the suspect's vehicle and license plate number outside the club provided it to law enforcement officers.
Between the lines: Both scenes of the recent assassination attempts posed massive protection challenges for the Secret Service, which is already facing fresh questions about its ability to protect Trump.
- News photographers have learned that there are several areas around the club's fence line where Trump would be visible while golfing.
- Both presidential candidates started speaking enclosed behind bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies after Trump was shot in July.
Where it happened: Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a late afternoon briefing that Trump's "golf course is surrounded by shrubbery. So when somebody gets into the shrubbery, they're pretty much out of sight."
- Trump is "not the sitting president. If he was, we woulda had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he's not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible."
- "So I would imagine that the next time he comes [to] the golf course, there'll probably be a little more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done."
About the golf course layout, Bradshaw said: "You've got three holes — five, six and seven ... One of them runs parallel to Summit Boulevard; one of them runs parallel to Congress [Avenue ... The suspect] was in the area in the shrubbery where he could see both holes."
- "So the president was on another hole back, which means he's about between 400-500 yards away. ... He's on the golf course ... but he's back a ways."
What's next: Expect the Secret Service to face more intense questioning about its ability to safeguard Trump — and all others under its protection.
- The bipartisan House committee investigating the last assassination attempt is already seeking a briefing.
Go deeper: What to know about the suspect in the Trump golf club shooting incident
