Former President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that he’s been the subject of multiple assassination attempts because his presidency was “consequential.”
“You know, only consequential presidents get shot at,” Trump declared at a town hall in Flint, Mich., two days after the Secret Service foiled the second assassination attempt against him in as many months.
“It’s a dangerous business running for president,” the Republican nominee told Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, who was moderating the event.
“God is not done with President Trump,” said Sanders, who served as his White House Press secretary.
“He’s the toughest guy I know and the fighter our country most desperately needs right now,” she added.
Trump also noted that he had a “nice conversation” with President Biden and received a “very, very, nice” phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris after Sunday’s scare at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
Here’s what we know about the assassination attempt on Trump in Florida:
- Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15, 2024.
- Trump sent out a statement to supporters soon after to report that he was “SAFE AND WELL.”
- The suspect — identified as Ryan Routh, 58, of Hawaii — was able to get within 300 to 500 yards of Trump at a chain link fence on the edge of the course, where he had an AK-47 and a GoPro camera set up, apparently to record the planned shooting.
- Routh has a history of supporting progressive causes online and has made 19 donations to Democratic candidates since 2019.
- A Secret Service agent spotted and opened fire on Routh as he put his gun through the fence. The suspect fled and was arrested on I-95 a short time later.
- According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Trump’s security detail was lighter because he isn’t a sitting president — despite the previous attempt on his life in July.
Alleged would-be assassin Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested and charged with federal gun crimes after he allegedly posted up in the bushes adjacent to Trump’s golf course with an AK-47 rifle.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates