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Secret Service agents opened fire on a suspect who was spotted hiding in the shrubs with an AK-47-style rifle at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after. The incident occurred while former U.S. President Donald Trump was golfing at the club with friend and donor Steve Witkoff. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the event as an attempted assassination of the former president.
According to reports, the incident took place at approximately 1:30 p.m. as Trump played a round of golf between the fifth and sixth holes. Secret Service agents observed Routh aiming his rifle from a hiding spot about 400 yards away from the former president. Agents fired at the suspect, causing him to drop his weapon and flee the area in a vehicle. No shots from the suspect were reported, and no injuries occurred during the altercation.
A witness at the scene managed to photograph the suspect’s vehicle, which helped authorities track him down. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s units, with assistance from the Secret Service, apprehended Routh northbound on Interstate 95 without incident. Sheriff’s units had waited before stopping the vehicle to avoid a high-speed chase, eventually forcing him off the road and arresting him at gunpoint. Routh was unarmed at the time of his capture.
At the scene, authorities recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera. The suspect’s motive remains unclear, although officials believe he intended to target Trump, who has been a frequent visitor to the West Palm Beach club. The Trump International Golf Club has previously been noted as a potential target for attempts on the former president’s life.
The FBI is leading the investigation, treating the event as an attempted assassination. This incident comes just 64 days after a separate assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in which the former president was shot in the right ear.
Ryan Wesley Routh has a long history of criminal behavior, dating back to 2002. In December of that year, he was convicted of possessing a firearm, resisting and obstructing a law enforcement officer, and driving with a revoked license after a three-hour standoff with police. During a traffic stop, Routh placed his hand on a gun before fleeing to a nearby business, where he barricaded himself inside. In 2003, he was sentenced for driving without a license, carrying a concealed weapon, and hit and run. In 2010, he was convicted of possessing stolen goods, with probation given for each offense.
In May 2024, Routh and his girlfriend relocated from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Hawaii. His recent move and previous criminal record have further complicated the investigation.
Voter records indicate that Routh was an unaffiliated voter. However, posts from his X account (formerly known as Twitter) show that he voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. By 2020, Routh had distanced himself from the former president, stating that he would “be happy when Trump is gone.” He also expressed support for Tulsi Gabbard in several posts and voiced belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories. During 2019 and 2020, Routh made over 20 donations to ActBlue, a prominent Democratic fundraising platform. In 2024, he voted in the Democratic primary in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Routh had a history of political activity both online and offline, including writing on Signal about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating, “Civilians must change this war and prevent future wars.” He had also posted on Twitter that he voted for Trump in 2016 but later regretted it, even inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to Hawaii for a “vacation,” where Routh would serve as a “liaison.” In a self-published e-book in 2023, he acknowledged his previous support for Trump, admitting, “I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake.” After his disillusionment with Trump, Routh expressed support for a range of presidential opponents, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Nikki Haley. He also donated $140 to Democratic causes and is registered as an independent voter in North Carolina.
In a 2022 interview with a Romanian reporter in Kyiv, Routh revealed that he had flown to Ukraine to join the army after Russia’s full-scale invasion but was deemed unsuitable for military service due to his age and lack of experience. Instead, he claimed to have begun recruiting volunteer soldiers for Ukraine. Routh voiced frustration with Ukraine’s reluctance to admit foreign fighters, suggesting they feared Russian spies. However, Evelyn Aschenbrenner, a former volunteer for Ukraine’s International Legion, labeled Routh as “delusional” and “a liar,” denying his involvement with the organization. The International Legion itself issued a statement affirming that Routh had never been associated with them in any capacity.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the incident shortly after it occurred. In a statement from the White House, the president and vice president expressed relief that former President Trump was unharmed. Harris also released a statement, saying, “Violence has no place in America. I’m glad to know former President Trump is safe.”
Shortly after the shooting, Twitter chairman Elon Musk quote-retweeted a post asking, “Why they want to kill Donald Trump? [sic]” and responded, “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.” Although Musk initially defended his comment, he deleted the tweet following widespread backlash, later claiming it was intended as a joke. The White House issued a statement condemning Musk’s remarks as “irresponsible,” emphasizing that “violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about.”
Trump reacted on Social Media: “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 job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE. THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
