The second assassination attempt occurred on September 15 while Mr. Trump was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to normal security procedures, the Secret Service moved one or two holes ahead of the former president, about 900 to 1,500 feet away, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. At about 1:30 p.m., while moving between the fifth and seventh holes, the Secret Service noticed a rifle barrel protruding from the tree-lined chain-link fence that surrounds the golf course. The Secret Service opened fire, and Trump’s security team took the former president to a safe room.
This is the second time in just over two months that a man carrying a high-powered rifle has aimed a shot at Donald Trump. This raises concerns about Trump's safety in the crucial period leading up to the November 5 election.
According to the Washington Post, the Secret Service has long considered golf courses to be particularly difficult places to protect important figures, open to the public and near areas with heavy traffic.
The suspect fled in a black Nissan, leaving behind an AK-47-style rifle, two bags and a camera mounted on a fence, Bradshaw said. A witness saw the suspect fleeing and called police to report the vehicle and license plate number. Officers tracked the vehicle down the highway and stopped it about 45 miles north of the golf course in neighboring Martin County. Palm Beach County Prosecutor David Aronberg said prosecutors are working on an arrest warrant and holding the suspect in pretrial detention.
After discovering the assassination plot, the Secret Service left Donald Trump at the golf club for several hours to ensure his nearby main residence, Mar-a-Lago, was safe before taking him home. The golf course is a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, also in West Palm Beach. A source said Trump was relaxed and on the phone for much of the afternoon after the incident.
Donald Trump's campaign quickly announced that the Republican presidential candidate was unhurt and continued fundraising.
"I am safe, healthy and no one was hurt," Mr. Trump shared in the campaign message.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the incident. Biden praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts to protect Trump and directed aides to ensure the service has "every resource, capability and protection necessary to ensure the former president's continued safety."
Ms. Harris expressed "gratefulness that former President Trump is safe."
Earlier, on July 13, Mr. Trump's ear was injured by a bullet while he was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The suspect was killed by a US Secret Service sniper.
