The Trump campaign issued a statement on Sunday confirming the safety of former President Donald Trump after reports of gunshots in his vicinity. Local law enforcement detained and took into custody a person suspected of being connected to the incident.
A brief statement released by Trump spokesman Steven Cheung stated that President Trump is safe following the gunshots. However, no further details were provided at this time.
It remains unclear whether shots were fired at the former president, who later released an emailed statement confirming his safety and well-being. Trump addressed the incident by saying, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
Meanwhile, the sheriffs deputies released a statement mentioning that they had stopped a vehicle and apprehended a suspect. A stretch of Interstate 96 near State Route 74 was temporarily shut down due to the incident.
The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in Florida reported no injuries resulting from the incident.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where the former president was golfing. A statement from the White House assured that they were relieved to know he is safe and would be continuously updated by their team.
Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s oldest son, took to social media and claimed that an AK-47 rifle was found in the bushes near the course. He also mentioned that a suspect was reportedly apprehended, while suggesting that the shooting was another attempt on Trump’s life. His comments were based on information provided by local law enforcement officials.
It is important to note that Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach is several miles away from Mar-a-Lago, his primary residence.
This incident occurred just two months after a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump during a Pennsylvania rally, resulting in one rallygoer’s death and injuries to two others. The suspect was shot and killed shortly after firing at the former president, and the motive behind the shooting has not been publicly disclosed by federal and state law enforcement officials.
Following the incident, concerns were raised regarding the U.S. Secret Service’s preparedness to secure the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In response, the agency’s then-director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned, and a new director was appointed.
Various investigations into the shooting have been initiated by Congress, the White House, and the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general.
As of Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service, the West Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, and the Trump campaign have not responded to requests for comment.
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