US Vice-President Kamala Harris was among the leaders who took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday to express relief after former President Donald Trump escaped an apparent assassination attempt, the second such incident involving the real estate mogul within weeks. The alleged attempt took place near Trump’s Florida golf course on Sunday, and a suspect was subsequently taken into custody.
In her post, Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival in the upcoming presidential election, said that she was briefed about “gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida”. She said that “he is glad he is safe”. She added that there was no place for violence in America.
I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024
President Joe Biden and Harris were briefed regarding the security incident involving Trump and they are both “relieved to know that he is safe”, the White House said in a statement.
Biden said there was “no place for political violence or for any violence in our country”. He said he had directed his team to ensure that the Secret Service had every resource “to ensure the former President’s continued safety”.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that [the] Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” Biden said in a statement Sunday evening.
As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s…
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 16, 2024
Senator J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, said the former president was in “good spirits”. He said he was glad that Trump was safe.
“I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance said.
I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024
Trump was reportedly playing golf at his Florida mansion when the US Secret Service noticed the muzzle of a gun sticking out of the shrubbery that lines the course. They shot at the gunman, who fled, leaving behind his weapon. The man was later arrested. The suspect has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The FBI has said the incident “appears to be” an assassination attempt.
On July 13, Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump’s son Eric Trump said about the latest incident that “his father was running out of lives”, as reported by The Guardian. “How many more rifles are going to come within assassination distance of my father?”
In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling 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 former president added.
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) September 15, 2024
