Live
Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump speaks during an election debate in Philadelphia, September 10 [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]
By Joseph Stepansky
Published On 15 Sep 2024

This live page is now closed.

16 Sep 2024 - 01:59
 (01:59 GMT)

Thanks for joining us

For all the details of the latest apparent instance of political violence in the US, read our full report here.

16 Sep 2024 - 01:55
 (01:55 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

This live page will soon be closing. Here’s what happened today:

  • The FBI says it is treating an incident at Trump’s golf course as an apparent “assassination attempt” against the former president.
  • Trump was unharmed in the incident.
  • A gunman was spotted on the outskirts of the course in the vicinity of Trump, according to law enforcement officials. A Secret Service agent fired at the man, who fled in a vehicle and was later arrested.
  • US media outlets have identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh. It was not immediately clear if he fired any shots.
  • The incident comes just two months after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
  • Lawmakers across the political spectrum have decried political violence, with some calling for further scrutiny of Secret Service protocols.
16 Sep 2024 - 01:45
 (01:45 GMT)

‘We need to know why this keeps happening’: Trump ally

Right-wing Congressman Matt Gaetz has questioned why Trump was targeted for the second time in a few months.

“We need to know why this keeps happening,” Gaetz wrote in a social media post.

16 Sep 2024 - 01:34
 (01:34 GMT)

Netanyahu says he is ‘shocked’ by apparent assassination attempt

The Israeli prime minister says he and his wife were “shocked by the second assassination attempt against President Trump and were relieved to hear that it too failed”.

“But we should not rely on luck,” Netanyahu added, saying he hopes that “all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the US presidency will be foiled in advance”.

While US leaders typically maintain close relations with their Israeli counterparts, Trump had particularly warm ties with Netanyahu while president.

Both Harris and Trump have pledged to continue the unconditional US support for Israel if elected. The Israeli offensive has killed at least 41,206 Palestinians.

16 Sep 2024 - 01:23
 (01:23 GMT)

Trump says his resolve is ‘stronger’

In a text message to supporters soliciting campaign donations, Trump says: “MY RESOLVE IS STRONGER AFTER ANOTHER ATTEMPT ON MY LIFE!”

“Thank you for your support. UNITY. PEACE. MAGA,” he added, referring to his campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

16 Sep 2024 - 01:12
 (01:12 GMT)

Biden says he directed every ‘protective measure necessary’ for Trump

The US president has released a more detailed statement on the apparent assassination attempt against Trump.

“A suspect is in custody, and 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. I am relieved that the former president is unharmed,” Biden said.

“There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened … 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 has abandoned his re-election bid against Trump and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris [File: Erin Schaff/Pool via AP]
16 Sep 2024 - 01:04
 (01:04 GMT)

Possible assassination attempt comes as campaign season heats up

There have been calls from both major political parties in the US to tone down rhetoric to avoid stirring up political violence.

But as the race between Trump and Harris heats up, such calls have gone largely ignored.

Democrats have portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, while Republicans have amped up their anti-immigrant statement.

Trump himself has been spreading false accounts about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating people’s pets in Ohio, leading to concerns for the safety of the community.

Read more about the right-wing push to spread that unsubstantiated rumour, here.

16 Sep 2024 - 00:52
 (00:52 GMT)
Analysis

Trump’s base sticking by him: Analyst

Political analyst Eric Ham says Trump has been able to employ rhetoric outside of what is politically acceptable while remaining electorally competitive because his supporters have continued to back him throughout the years.

“What we have seen over and over again is, Donald Trump’s base continues to stand with him no matter what,” Ham told Al Jazeera.

16 Sep 2024 - 00:40
 (00:40 GMT)

Law enforcement agencies working ‘learn all of the facts’: Homeland Security secretary

Department of Homeland Security (DHC) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has lauded Secret Service agents’ “quick action to preempt this apparent assassination attempt” against Trump.

DHS oversees the Secret Service.

“DHS and the Secret Service are closely working with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to learn all of the facts surrounding this incident,” Mayorkas said in a social media post. “The safety and security of Presidential candidates and other protectees is the highest priority for the Secret Service.”

16 Sep 2024 - 00:25
 (00:25 GMT)

Photos: Scenes from incident at Trump’s golf course

The apparent potential assassination against Trump has rocked US politics and raised calls from across the political spectrum rejecting political violence.

Below are photos from the scene in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Photos showing an AK-47-style rifle, a backpack and a Go-Pro camera on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club, released by law enforcement [Stephany Matat/The Associated Press]
The vehicle in which the suspect fled at the scene of his arrest in Martin, Florida [The Associated Press]
Far-right political activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer on her mobile phone near Trump International Golf Club after the shooting in West Palm Beach, Florida [Terry Renna/The Associated Press]

16 Sep 2024 - 00:10
 (00:10 GMT)

Fox News host gives account of incident after talking with Trump

Right-wing commentator Sean Hannity, a Trump ally, says he spoke with both the former president and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff, who was present during today’s incident.

Hannity said they told him that they had been on the fifth hole and were about to go to putt when they heard a “pop pop, pop pop” sound.

Secret Service agents then “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him, Witkoff told Hannity.

16 Sep 2024 - 00:00
 (00:00 GMT)

‘It’s not who we are as a nation’: Tim Walz

Harris’s running mate joins other US politicians in denouncing political violence.

“Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation,” the Minnesota governor said in a statement.

15 Sep 2024 - 23:47
 (23:47 GMT)

Key Republican congresswoman calls for ‘clear explanation’ of incident

Elise Stefanik has questioned how the alleged gunman was able to “get this close” to Trump.

“There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida,” the congresswoman said in a statement.

15 Sep 2024 - 23:35
 (23:35 GMT)

Congress task force probing July assassination attempt calls for briefing

In a statement, the co-chairs of the task force, Republican Representative Mike Kelly and Democratic Representative Jason Crow, said they have requested a briefing with the Secret Service “about what happened and how security responded”.

“We are thankful that the former president was not harmed, but remain concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” it said.

The panel is currently the only group in the House of Representatives authorised to probe the July assassination attempt.

15 Sep 2024 - 23:26
 (23:26 GMT)
Developing

US media outlets report name of suspect

Several US publications – including The New York Times, CBS News and Fox News – have reported, citing unidentified law enforcement officials, that the alleged gunman in the incident is Ryan Wesley Routh.

Law enforcement agencies have not officially released the suspect’s name.

15 Sep 2024 - 23:17
 (23:17 GMT)

Trump set to campaign in Michigan, New York, North Carolina

The Trump campaign has so far not indicated that there will be any changes to the former president’s schedule in light of today’s events.

The former president is set to hold a town hall in Flint, Michigan, on Tuesday night. Polls have shown the race remains neck and neck in the Midwestern battleground state.

He will then hold a rally in Uniondale, New York, on Wednesday before heading to Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday to give a speech on the economy.

Trump did not stop his public appearances after the assassination attempt in July. He attended the Republican National Convention and showed up at several events in the days that followed.

Trump after his speech on Day 4 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 18 [File: Jeenah Moon/Reuters]
15 Sep 2024 - 23:03
 (23:03 GMT)

Top Senate Democrat says ‘no place’ for political violence in US

In statements reminiscent of the response to the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump, lawmakers from across the political divide have condemned today’s incident.

Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate and a Trump critic, called for accountability for the alleged gunman.

“I was just briefed by the Acting Director of the Secret Service. I applaud the Secret Service for their quick response to ensure former President Trump’s safety,” Schumer said.

“There is no place in this country for political violence of any kind.”

15 Sep 2024 - 22:51
 (22:51 GMT)

Law enforcement agents averted ‘horrific tragedy’: US legislator

Republican Congressman Bob Latta says in a social media post that he is grateful for Trump’s safety as well as for the law enforcement agents who arrested the alleged gunman, crediting them for averting “what would have been a horrific tragedy”.

 

15 Sep 2024 - 22:40
 (22:40 GMT)

Incident highlights US’s rampant gun violence

Political violence in the US underscores the broader issue of gun violence that has plagued the country for decades.

In the July attempt on Trump’s life, the shooter used a rifle bought legally by his father in 2013, according to several US media reports.

Today, law enforcement officials have said they recovered an AK-47-style rifle when they arrested the alleged gunman.

These types of semiautomatic weapons can be easily acquired in the US, where the Second Amendment of the Constitution grants the right to “keep and bear arms”.

Trump’s Republican Party views gun ownership as an essential liberty and has resisted and blocked efforts to enact stricter restrictions on arms.

While mass shootings and political violence in the US often get national and international attention, most gun violence incidents in the country do not make it to the headlines.

Gun violence killed 42,987 people in the US last year, according to the research group Gun Violence Archive.

15 Sep 2024 - 22:27
 (22:27 GMT)

Trump’s running mate JD Vance says grateful ex-president is safe

Vance says he spoke to Trump before news of the incident became public.

“Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” the senator said in a social media post.