Mon Sep 16 14:01:07 UTC 2024: ## Trump Targeted in Second Assassination Attempt, Secret Service Responds

Former President Donald Trump was the target of an alleged assassination attempt on Sunday, marking the second such incident in recent months. The incident took place at Trump’s golf course in Florida, where a suspect, identified by US media as Ryan Routh, was spotted in the bushes with a rifle. Secret Service agents, who were conducting routine security sweeps, spotted the weapon and engaged the suspect, who fled the scene.

Routh was later apprehended by police on Interstate 95, roughly 61km (38 miles) from the golf course, after abandoning his weapon and other items.

Trump, who was playing golf several hundred yards away from the suspect, confirmed his safety and praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies for their swift action.

This incident has raised serious questions about the level of protection afforded to Trump, who is currently running for the White House again. While he doesn’t receive the same level of protection as a sitting president, some security experts argue he requires a higher-level security detail given the previous attempt on his life and the heightened threat he faces as a prominent political figure.

Following the incident, the FBI and state of Florida have launched investigations into the attempted assassination. Meanwhile, a congressional task force looking into the July incident has requested a briefing with the Secret Service.

The attempted assassination has been condemned by both Trump allies and his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, who has assured the public that the government will provide the Secret Service with every resource necessary to carry out its mission.

This incident comes just two months after Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania. That incident resulted in the resignation of the US Secret Service Director, Kim Cheatle. The agency now faces renewed questions about its ability to protect former presidents and high-profile individuals, particularly those who remain active in the political arena.

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