Trump assassination attempt: US Secret Service admits golf course wasn’t searched

The revelation by the agency has increased the pressure on its functioning as it has already been under intense scrutiny over the security lapses in the previous attack on the former President Trump in July.

Authorities found an SKS-style rifle, a scope, and bags with food at the location where Routh was hiding. (Photo: captured from the footage released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office)

The former President Donald Trump survived another possible assassination attempt on Sunday and the US Secret Service has now admitted that it did not search the perimeter of the golf course where the suspect roamed for around 12 hours in hope to kill Trump.

The revelation by the agency has increased the pressure on its functioning as it has already been under intense scrutiny over the security lapses in the previous attack on the former President Trump in July.

I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2024

In the latest incident, a secret service agent opened fire after he spotted a gun barrel appearing out of the bushes while Trump played golf at his golf club in Florida. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, fled from the spot but was later arrested in his black Nissan and produced in court with charges of possession of a firearm as a felon.

Also Read | What we know of Ryan Wesley Routh, suspected shooter in second assassination attempt on Trump

The questions being raised remain pertinent as to how the suspect could have remained in the area for around 12 hours undetected and Trump was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

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The secret service has stated that the suspect Routh did not fire any shot in the incident and he never had Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in his sights, The Guardian reported.

Also Read | Trump blames rhetoric by Biden, Kamala for assassination attempts

In a press conference on Monday, the acting director of US Secret Service, Ronald Rowe Jr., said “The president wasn’t even really supposed to go there. It was not on his official schedule.”

Explaining the suspect Routh’s detention, Rowe said, “And so we put together a security plan and that security plan worked.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has called it an assassination attempt and the bureau’s analysis of Routh’s cell phone data has revealed that it was in the “vicinity of the area along the tree line” of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach beginning at 1:59 am on Sunday, according to a New York Times report.

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Trump earlier survived an assassination attempt while conducting a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July when a bullet passed through his ear, injuring it. One rally attendee was killed in the incident. The shooter was killed by a US Secret Service agent.

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