Donald Trump, the Republican running for president, has accused Democratic competitor Kamala Harris and Vice President Joe Biden of using derogatory language to try to ruin his chances of winning the presidency, reports RTE.
“He took action based on the rhetoric of Biden and Harris,” Mr. Trump said to Fox News Digital regarding the man detained for reportedly concealing an assault-style weapon at the fringe of the golf course where he was playing the day before.
“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.”
It coincides with President Joe Biden’s statement that the Secret Service “needs more help” following what the FBI described as a possible attempt on the life of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, reports RTE.
When the effort was thwarted by the Secret Service when the former US president was playing golf on his club in West Palm Beach, Florida, he was flagged as safe.
A shooter was discovered a few hundred yards from where Mr Trump was playing yesterday afternoon, and several Secret Service officers opened fire on him while he was hiding in bushes close to the golf course’s property boundary, according to law enforcement authorities.
After leaving an assault weapon akin to an AK-47 and other stuff behind, the suspect drove off and was apprehended.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Biden expressed his gratitude that the former president was okay but added that he did not yet have a complete account on the situation.
“One thing I want to make clear, the (secret) service needs more help, and I think the Congress should respond to their needs,” he said. “I think we may need more personnel,” reports RTE.
Two months had passed since Mr. Trump was shot during a Pennsylvania campaign event, resulting in a slight damage to his right ear. This appears to be an attempt on his life.
With just over seven weeks until the election on November 5, both instances show the difficulties in ensuring the safety of presidential candidates in a fiercely competitive and divisive campaign.
“It was definitely an interesting day! I would like to thank everyone for their concern and well wishes,” Trump said on social media late yesterday, expressing gratitude to the police and Secret Service for keeping him safe, reports RTE.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, was named by CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times based on anonymous law enforcement sources. The FBI declined to comment, and Reuters was unable to confirm his name on its own.
The suspect’s motivation and method of knowing that Mr. Trump was playing golf were unclear, but the attempted attack was certain to spark further enquiries about the extent of his protection.
Officials admitted that the entire golf course was not blocked off since Mr. Trump is not in office in answer to a reporter’s query.
“If he was, we would have had the entire golf course surrounded,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during yesterday’s briefing, reports RTE.
“Because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” reports RTE.
“Nothing will slow me down,” stated Mr. Trump in an email to his followers shortly after the event. I refuse to give up!,” reports RTE.
President Joe Biden said he had instructed his staff to make sure the Secret Service has the resources necessary to guarantee Mr. Trump’s safety in a statement issued by the White House.
Reuters located profiles for a Ryan Routh on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, reports RTE.
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