A security lapse at Trump International Golf Club nearly resulted in tragedy when a would-be assassin was discovered hiding in the bushes during former President Donald Trump's unscheduled golf outing.
According to the Washington Examiner, the Secret Service admitted to not sweeping the perimeter of the golf course prior to Trump's arrival. This oversight was reportedly due to the golf outing not being on the former president's official schedule for the day.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe confirmed the security breach during a press conference on Monday. Despite the failure to secure the perimeter, Rowe emphasized that an agent's vigilance in sweeping the area ahead of Trump prevented the suspect from gaining a clear line of sight of the former president.
The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was spotted by a Secret Service agent who noticed an "AK-47-style rifle with a scope" protruding from the bushes along the golf course. This timely detection by the forward element of Trump's security detail proved crucial in averting a potential catastrophe.
Rowe praised the agent's actions, stating:
There was a front element. It did its job of sweeping ahead of the president. That's what identified this individual, who was in that wood line. The swift action of that agent — doing his job, pushing out ahead, sweeping, while the president was behind him, several hundred yards and several holes away, out of sight from the gunman — did his job, and that was what alerted the detail and the swift action of what took place.
The incident has once again brought the Secret Service under scrutiny, particularly in light of a previous assassination attempt on Trump in July, which resulted in an injury to the former president and the death of a rally attendee.
Following Sunday's incident, Routh is now facing federal gun charges. Additional state and federal charges are expected as multiple investigations into the attempted assassination continue.
The case has sparked a jurisdictional debate, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arguing that the state should take the lead in prosecuting Routh. DeSantis contends that the would-be assassin's actions constitute "a violation of state law" rather than federal law.
This incident marks the second assassination attempt on Trump in recent months, highlighting ongoing security concerns surrounding the former president. The July attempt led to the resignation of the previous head of the Secret Service, with Rowe taking over as acting director.
The near-miss at Trump International Golf Club has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of presidential protection measures, particularly for former presidents who maintain high public profiles.
Questions are being raised about the protocols in place for unscheduled activities and the balance between maintaining security and allowing for spontaneous movements of protected individuals.
The incident also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Secret Service in adapting to evolving threats and ensuring the safety of high-profile individuals in various settings.
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course has revealed significant security lapses in Secret Service protocols. While an alert agent prevented the tragedy by spotting the armed suspect, the failure to sweep the course perimeter has raised serious concerns. The incident has led to federal charges against the suspect, with potential additional state charges pending.
