Within a span of nearly two months, the former US President and the US Presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, faced two assassination attempts. On 15 September 2024, Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, witnessed shots being fired within 300 to 500 yards while Trump was playing golf at the course. Trump International Golf Club, located in West Palm Beach, Florida, was opened in 1999, and is frequently visited by Trump whenever he is at Mar-a-Lago, another of his resorts.
Unlike earlier on July 13, 2024, when the fire was opened by the assailant at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, this time, the Secret Service agents frustrated the second assassination attempt on Trump by opening fire immediately after they spotted an individual with an AK-47 rifle. The suspected assailant, Ryan Wesley Routh, tried to flee in an SUV, which was intercepted. The would-be assassin was arrested by a local sheriff in Martin County, about 45 miles northwards from the Golf Course where the incident took place.
As none was hurt in the second assassination attempt on Trump, later, he assured his supporters via a fundraising email in the following words, “I am safe and well … Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender! I will always love you for supporting me.”
Reactions to the report of a second assassination attempt on Trump
While the current President, Joe Biden and Vice President, Kamala Harris, expressed relief as the incident resulted in no injuries, they also reiterated their position on political violence. On being briefed about the incident, the President wrote, “As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country”. Along similar lines, the Vice President posted, “I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.
Contrary to their reactions, Elon Musk took to his X handle to express his surprise and shock at the second assassination attempt on Trump. In his now-deleted post, which drew flak, he said, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala”.
Earlier Assassination Attempt on Trump
The first assassination attempt on Trump was made on 13 July 2024 at an election rally on Sunday afternoon on Butler farm show grounds. It not only caused injury to the former president’s upper right ear while he was delivering a speech but also culminated in the death of a 50-year-old man who was attending the event, besides critically injuring three others from among the audience.
Even before this, there has been another attempt during the election campaign of 2016. In a similar event on June 18 in Paradise, Nevada, a British citizen attempted to snatch the service pistol of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer providing security for the event so that he could shoot Trump.
Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?
Ryan Wesley Routh, the alleged assailant who is under custody for the ongoing investigation, is a Democrat loyalist. The 58-year old has contributed donations amounting to an estimated $140 since 2019 to the party. Routh, a pro-Ukraine supporter who hails from Hawaii and owns Camp Box Honolulu, an affordable housing construction company, declares his avowed interest “to join any monumental worthy cause to bring about real change in our world”, according to his LinkedIn profile. Whether the second assassination attempt on Trump springs from his desire to change the world or not is a question that the investigator can answer in the coming days.
Question on the role of the Secret Service
The second assassination attempt on Trump immediately after two months has cast serious doubt over the competency of the Secret Service, which is the federal law enforcement agency entrusted with the responsibility of protecting political persona. After the shooting on July 13, which resulted in Trump being shot in his upper right ear, Trump’s security was tightened, as evident from the increased number of deployed agents and overall improved intelligence. Trump’s son, Eric Trump, seems to be not so pleased with the effort of the Secret Service as he terms it a “failure” despite the millions of dollars spent and expresses deep concern as he believes “My father is running out of lives here”.
However, some, including the serving President as well as Trump himself, have heaped praises on the Secret Service for preventing the assassination attempt. The 46th US president praised the Secret Service and commented: “I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe”.
In his X post expressing gratitude, he wrote, “The job done was absolutely outstanding. I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes … Most importantly, I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated patriots, and all of the 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.”
What are the implications of the repeated assassination attempt on Trump?
The high-stake election that has a potential role in shaping the ongoing political crisis in the Middle East and Europe is marred by violence. This is not the first time that the nation has had to grapple with unprecedented political violence, as America has a long history of presidential attacks. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and John F. Kennedy in 1963 stands a testament to the claim.
The scheduled election on November 5, 2024, is expected to have a strong bearing on the fate of global affairs like the Ukraine-Russia crisis and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Harris was nominated as the Democrat candidate after the 81-year-old incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew himself from the re-election campaign on July 21, 2024. From the presidential debate between Kamala Harries and Donald Trump, it is evident that though they are in agreement over their stance on a ceasefire in case of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, their standing on the Ukraine-Russia crisis seems to be at variance.
While Harries clearly supports Ukraine and has been an outright critic of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Trump seems to take a more balanced view of the situation. Instead of blaming Russia and clearly backing Ukraine, Trump is focused on stopping the war and saving lives. In several other instances, Trump has repeatedly shown his increasing willingness to detach the US from issues that directly impact Europe and found advocating in some of his rallies that Europe should rethink its own security. In the above light, the changed foreign policy outlook can have a far-reaching impact in determining both the US’s domestic policies as well as its ties with other nations in such a dynamic time.
On a personal front, the second assassination attempt on Trump immediately after the first can have an augmenting influence on his narrative to present himself as a victim of political violence and thus counter the Biden administration’s campaign to demonize his polarization tactics. Trump was convicted of felony crimes on May 30, 2024, in New York and also faces charges related to sexual assault and election subversion.
However, Trump’s persistent claim that he has been a victim of the deep state conspiracy seems to have gained ground amidst the repeated assassination attempts. Trump, who has been on the receiving end of criticism after the election subversion attempt after Joe Biden’s election in 2021 and other charges that have tainted his reputation, can find an opportunity to resurrect his image if he plays on this particular victimhood narrative.
FAQ
Why in News?
Within a span of nearly two months, the former US President and the US Presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, faced two assassination attempts. On 15 September 2024, Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, witnessed shots being fired within 300 to 500 yards while Trump was playing golf at the course.
Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?
Ryan Wesley Routh, the alleged assailant who is under custody for the ongoing investigation, is a Democrat loyalist.
Why the role of the Secret Service is under scanner?
The second assassination attempt on Trump immediately after two months has cast serious doubt over the competency of the Secret Service, which is the federal law enforcement agency entrusted with the responsibility of protecting political persona.
When did the Earlier Assassination Attempt on Trump take place?
The first assassination attempt on Trump was made on 13 July 2024 at an election rally on Sunday afternoon on Butler farm show grounds.
What are the implications of the repeated assassination attempt on Trump?
The high-stake election that has a potential role in shaping the ongoing political crisis in the Middle East and Europe is marred by violence. Trump, who has been on the receiving end of criticism after the election subversion attempt after Joe Biden’s election in 2021 and other charges that have tainted his reputation, can find an opportunity to resurrect his image if he plays on this particular victimhood narrative.
