The FBI said Sunday that former U.S. president Donald Trump was the subject of “an apparent assassination attempt” at this Florida golf club.
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This is a breaking update. A previous version of this story can be read below.
Donald Trump is safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the U.S. Secret Service said.
It was not immediately clear whether the reported shots were targeted at the Republican presidential nominee.
The Secret Service said it was investigating and that the incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. local time. “The former president is safe,” according to the Secret Service.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” Trump said in a statement.
“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
Roughly two months ago, Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, when a bullet grazed his ear.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that included a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser.
The campaign did not immediately provide any additional details.
No injuries were reported, according to a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
After the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, serious concerns and inquiries have arisen regarding how a sniper secured rooftop access about 150 metres from where the former president was speaking at an outdoor rally.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House added they are “relieved” to know Trump is safe.
A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation said officials were trying to determine whether the shots were fired near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course or on the grounds. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Trump often spends the morning playing golf, before having lunch at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach, which is one of three he owns in the state.
Donald Trump told the crowd at the Republican National Convention what happened during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday. The former president said it’s the only time he’ll tell the story because it’s too painful for him to recount.
Trump has had a stepped-up security footprint since the assassination attempt in July. When he has been at Trump Tower in New York, a lineup of dump trucks is parked in a wall outside the building. And at outdoor rallies, he now speaks from behind an enclosure of bulletproof glass.
A message sent to campaign officials seeking information on the security status and location of Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, was not immediately returned.
Max Egusquiza, of Palm Beach, described the emergency response outside Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.
“From what I saw, five black unmarked SUVs blocked in a grey Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more cop cars flying from nearby streets,” he said.