Another attack attempt
“Trump shouldn't have been there at all”
September 17, 2024Reading time: 2 minutes
A suspected assassin waited for Donald Trump in the bushes for almost twelve hours. Is the ex-president too spontaneous for his bodyguards?
It was the second suspected attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in two months – and another setback for the Secret Service. The security service for current and former US presidents is under criticism after the shooting on Trump's golf course in Florida on Sunday. Now the head of the authority has also admitted mistakes.
According to Ronald L. Rowe, the security guards failed to completely search the golf course in West Palm Beach before Trump's visit, according to the New York Times. However, Rowe rejected criticism of his officials. They acted quickly and decisively when they discovered the suspected assassin.
video | Attempted assassination of Trump: Bodycam footage shows arrest
According to the FBI, 58-year-old Ryan R. waited for almost twelve hours in the bushes outside the golf course fence, armed with an AK-47 machine gun. Trump's bodyguards finally saw the gun barrel sticking out of the bushes and immediately opened fire on the man, who initially managed to escape and was caught shortly afterwards. According to the Secret Service, there was no immediate danger to Trump because the shooter did not have a clear view of him.
However, after Secret Service chief Rowe's statements, it remained unclear why his officers had not searched the golf course. According to the New York Times, there may simply not have been enough time for this, as Trump's trip to the golf course was a spontaneous event and was not part of the ex-president's official schedule. “He actually shouldn't have been there,” the newspaper quoted the head of the authority as saying.
However, the agency also has less money available to protect former officials than it does for incumbent presidents. Now Rowe is demanding more money from the US Congress to better equip the nearly 160-year-old Secret Service and adapt it to an “increasingly threatening political climate.” US President Joe Biden supports the move and has called on Congress to increase Secret Service funding.
video | Trump speaks out after attempted attack
Trump blamed the US Democrats for the renewed attempted attack on his person. The rhetoric of President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris led the suspected assassin to act, said Trump. Biden spoke to Trump on the phone after the incident. In the “friendly conversation” he expressed his relief that Trump was safe, the White House said. Trump thanked him for the call.
Two months ago, an assassination attempt was made on the 78-year-old at a Trump campaign event. He was slightly injured in the ear by a shooter.
