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President Joe Biden has assured that the Secret Service will have “all necessary resources” to guarantee Donald Trump’s security following a second “attempt on his life.”
The president expressed his “relief” that Mr. Trump was “safe” after the arrest of 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was taken into custody linked to gunshots fired close to the location where the former president was golfing at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Authorities believe the assailant did not discharge any rounds but was “lying in wait” for Mr. Trump when a Secret Service agent noticed a rifle muzzle emerging from a perimeter fence surrounding the course, Palm Beach County’s attorney Dave Aronberg shared with MSNBC.
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An AK-47 styled assault rifle equipped with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro device were subsequently retrieved concealed within the brush.
In an announcement following the incident, Mr. Biden expressed his “appreciation” for the efforts of the Secret Service and stated he has “instructed [his] team to ensure that the agency is equipped with every resource, capability, and protective measure essential for the former president’s ongoing safety.”
Donald Trump (centre) with House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly on Sunday post-incident. Pic: X/MikeJohnson
This incident has triggered criticism of the Secret Service, as many ponder how the assailant managed to approach within approximately 500 yards of Mr. Trump. This marks the second alleged attempt on Mr. Trump’s life within nine weeks, following an incident where the Republican presidential contender was harmed during an assassination attempt at a rally in July.
Secret Service must ‘enhance protection’
Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor and a Republican, posted on X proclaiming that the state would launch its own investigation into the matter, as citizens “deserve transparency regarding the would-be assassin” who approached so closely to Mr. Trump.
Fellow Republican and this year’s presidential candidate rival Vivek Ramaswamy urged the Secret Service to “intensify its protective measures.”
Suspect Ryan Routh is presently in police custody. Pic: Ryan Routh/Facebook
An AK-47 rifle, a backpack, and a Go-Pro camera were discovered on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club. Pic: AP
Characterizing Sunday’s event as “unacceptable and un-American,” he asserted: “I implore [the] Secret Service to IMMEDIATELY enhance its protection for President Trump to the same degree they offer to Biden; there’s no justifiable reason not to at this time.
“America is teetering on thin ice, and I am grateful that we have successfully avoided tragedy on two occasions this summer.”
Speaking with Sky News, Julia Manchester, a political correspondent for The Hill, stated that there will be “numerous inquiries” regarding the Secret Service and federal laws as individuals question how the former president’s life has been threatened once more.
“We still lack a motive from the suspect. We are unaware of the reasoning behind this,” she mentioned. “We’ve observed increasingly hostile rhetoric across the board in the United States. It has been escalating.
“I suspect we will hear demands for increased gun control measures. In general, there will be a broader discussion regarding political rhetoric and its potential to incite political violence.”
The Secret Service faced heightened scrutiny following the initial assassination attempt on Mr. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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Trump ‘apparent assassination attempt’ timeline
This led to the departure of Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, who conceded to Congress that her agency experienced its “most significant operational failure” in decades.
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Ronald Rowe has subsequently taken over leadership of the service. He is reportedly en route to West Palm Beach in the aftermath of the occurrences in Florida, as indicated by officials speaking to Sky News’s U.S. partner NBC News.
Officers ‘prevented’ attack
Despite mounting pressure from some quarters, the Trump campaign credited the “excellent work” of agents in ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including Mr. Trump.
Acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe is reportedly headed to West Palm Beach. Photo: Reuters
Prominent Democrats have also supported the actions taken by the agency.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, who operates under President Biden and Vice President Harris, emphasized that the protection of presidential candidates is “of utmost importance” for the agency and affirmed that personnel succeeded in “preventing” the attack and safeguarding Mr. Trump.
In addition, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his approval of the Secret Service “for their swift action in ensuring former President Trump’s safety”.
“Political violence in any form has no place in our nation,” he remarked. “The individual responsible should face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
