Biden Condemns Violence Following Trump Assassination Attempt
President Joe Biden has condemned political violence and all forms of violence in the wake of an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Biden praised law enforcement for their swift actions in safeguarding Trump during the incident on Sunday at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“There is no place for political violence or any violence ever in our country,” Biden said in a statement. He assured that he has directed his team to provide the Secret Service with all necessary resources and protective measures to ensure Trump’s safety.
“I have been briefed on the situation, and federal law enforcement is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination,” Biden continued. “I commend the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed.”
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, has been identified as the suspect in the incident. Reports indicate that Routh, a resident of Hawaii and a former construction worker in North Carolina, attempted to assassinate Trump while he was on the golf course. The FBI is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination and has confirmed the recovery of an AK-47 style rifle, two backpacks filled with ceramic tiles, and a GoPro camera abandoned by Routh.
This marks the second assassination attempt on Trump in just over two months. The previous attempt occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where the shooter was killed by a law enforcement sniper.
The incident on Sunday occurred around 1:30 p.m. at Trump International Golf Club. A Secret Service agent, who was ahead of Trump to secure the area, noticed a gun protruding from the foliage and responded to the threat. The suspect was apprehended after a witness reported the vehicle and its registration plate.
In response to the attack, Trump issued a statement saying, “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! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
The White House confirmed that both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who are in Washington D.C., have been briefed on the incident and are relieved that Trump is safe. Harris expressed her relief on social media, stating, “I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The Secret Service is continuing its investigation into the shooting, which took place near the Trump golf course, as authorities work to piece together the full details of the event.
