A gunman hid for nearly 12 hours in bushes before Donald Trump played an unscheduled round of golf at his oceanfront club in Florida, leaving locals stunned. Authorities believe this could be the second assassination attempt on the former president in as many months.
It was a hot and cloudy Sunday afternoon when Trump and his friend, real estate developer Steve Wykoff, arrived at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. The former president was on the fifth fairway at 1:31 PM EDT (5:31 PM GMT), near busy roads close to Palm Beach International Airport, when a member of his security detail spotted a rifle sticking out of the bushes near the sixth hole.
Trump, who was evacuated unharmed, recounted on Monday night that he heard “probably four or five” shots ring out nearby. A quick-thinking Secret Service agent fired in the direction of the suspect, who was about 300-500 yards away and didn’t have a clear line of sight on Trump, federal investigators reported.
“The Secret Service knew immediately it was bullets, and they grabbed me,” Trump said during a live-streamed event on X, formerly Twitter, from his Mar-a-Lago resort. “We got into the carts, and we moved along pretty good. I was with an agent, and the agent did a fantastic job.” Investigators said the gunman, who didn’t fire any shots, was concealed by the well-manicured shrubbery and tall palm trees lining the 27-hole course.
According to mobile phone records cited by federal officials, the suspect had been lurking on the public side of a fence since 1:59 AM on Sunday morning. He was armed with two digital cameras, a black plastic bag of food, an SKS-style semi-automatic rifle—a weapon with a range of nearly 440 yards—and a scope to magnify its lens.
Trump’s last publicly scheduled campaign event had been on Saturday evening in Utah. Locals noted that Trump spends almost every Sunday at the West Palm Beach golf club when he’s not on the campaign trail. However, Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe mentioned on Monday that Trump “wasn’t even really supposed to go there,” forcing agents to come up with a security plan at the last minute.
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A Suspicious Presence
The day started like any other at the golf club, with Trump scheduling an impromptu round of golf. However, the situation became concerning when a 34-year-old man with a history of erratic behavior was spotted in the area well before Trump’s arrival.
A local resident first noticed the man around 11 AM. His behavior seemed unusual—pacing and showing a strange interest in the golf course activities. The resident saw the man was carrying a firearm, leading to immediate concern and a call to local law enforcement.
Security Response some Hours
As Trump’s game approached, his security team was unaware of the potential threat. The former president’s routine preparations went on without any hint of danger. However, the situation escalated once the gunman’s presence was confirmed.
Local authorities were alerted, and a swift response was initiated. The gunman, who had been hiding nearby, was eventually spotted, and a search began. Despite law enforcement’s rapid efforts, the suspect initially managed to evade capture. It wasn’t until several hours later, after an extensive search operation, that he was apprehended in a nearby wooded area.
Security Concerns
This incident highlighted a significant security lapse. The fact that the gunman was able to remain undetected for so long raises important questions about the current security measures’ effectiveness. Although Trump’s golf outing continued without direct incident, the potential danger posed by the gunman was a serious concern.
Security experts have stressed that this close call underscores the need for heightened vigilance and improved protocols. Proper threat assessment and a prompt response are essential to safeguarding high-profile individuals and preventing such dangerous situations.
Official Statements
In the aftermath of the incident, both the Secret Service and local law enforcement vowed to review and strengthen security practices. A Secret Service spokesperson expressed relief that the situation was resolved without harm and emphasized that a thorough evaluation of security procedures would be conducted to prevent future incidents.
A spokesperson for Trump also addressed the situation, reassuring the public that Trump’s safety was never compromised and highlighting the importance of effective security measures. They praised law enforcement’s swift action in resolving the situation without harm.
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