Just two months after former President Donald Trump came within inches of dying from an assassin’s bullet in Pennsylvania, a Secret Service agent foiled a second attempt on a Florida golf course.
Trump was not hurt and a suspect is in custody. But officials on both sides of the political aisle say the two close calls show there are serious problems with Trump’s security. Some Trump supporters say part of the problem are partisan elements inside the federal government who are less-than-motivated to make sure Trump stays safe.
The news sparked a reaction in the Granite State, including a bipartisan denunciation of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party over social media messages promoting deadly violence against politicians posted just hours before the Trump story broke.
“As someone who travels with the president all of the time, it scares everybody,” longtime Trump aide Corey Lewandowski told WMUR Sunday.
During a press conference Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters a Secret Service agent working security around Trump at his south Florida golf course was one hole ahead of the former president when he saw a rifle barrel sticking through a chain link fence. He “immediately engaged” — firing his weapon — and the would-be shooter fled in a black Nissan.
Bradshaw said the suspect was about 300 to 500 yards from Trump before he was spotted. “With a rifle and scope like that, it’s not a long distance,” he said.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested on Sunday. He reportedly has a lengthy criminal record in North Carolina, and he has frequently posted about politics, particularly the issue of Ukraine. He has declared on social media that “democracy is on the ballot and we cannot lose” in the 2024 election, a theme of the Kamala Harris campaign and other anti-Trump Democrats. He’s also touted his efforts to recruit people to travel to Ukraine and fight against Russia.
Trump released a statement telling supporters, “I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us.”
And in a message of defiance, Trump posted on social media: “0-2,” a reference to two missed attempts on his life.
Many of Trump’s New Hampshire supporters, however, weren’t laughing.
“I condemn all political violence and violent rhetoric. Disturbed people are influenced by this rhetoric. Everyone, please, knock it off. Enough of the ‘threat to democracy’ dog whistle against President Trump,” said New Hampshire GOP chair Chris Ager.
Gov. Chris Sununu offered a measured response.
“Violence of any form has no place in America. While much remains unknown, we must commit ourselves to protecting the bedrock of our democracy with peaceful elections,” Sununu said.
The Republican who wants to take over when Sununu’s gone at the end of the year, former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, said, “Political violence has no place in our country — period. Joe and I are praying for President Trump and are thankful that this heinous attempt on his life failed.”
Several people echoed Ager’s complaints about heated rhetoric targeting Trump and his supporters as adding to a social climate where two different people would target the former president for assassination.
“There is no place in America for political violence,” said Russell Prescott, the GOP candidate challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas. “While I am grateful to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their actions today in stopping this attack, this is now the second attempt on President Trump’s life in just a couple of months. This cannot become the norm in politics. My prayers go out to Donald Trump and his family; I am very glad he is safe.”
And Bruce Johnson, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, told InsideSources, “You can’t call somebody a Nazi and Hitler and not expect this reaction. They made him out to be a villain who is destroying democracy. People think they’re heroes by killing ‘Hitler.’
“If he was as bad as they say he is, why lie about him?” Johnson added. “Eight years of people saying what an evil person Trump is, it’s got to have an effect on those with weak minds.”
And NH-02 GOP nominee Lily Tang Williams noted that the second assassination attempt occurred even as Americans have not yet been told many details about the first.
“We are still waiting for the investigation result of the first Trump assassination investigation. We must get to the bottom of these two assassinations quickly. American people deserve to know the truth,” Williams said.
Members of both major parties denounced the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire for social media posts just hours before the shooting promoting political assassinations.
“Anyone who murders Kamala Harris would be a hero,” the organization posted, along with several defenses of such posts as a sign of fealty to free speech.
Ager responded with an angry message.
“Comments by the Libertarian Party of NH suggesting the assassination of political figures, including Vice President Harris, are condemned in the strongest possible terms. There is no room for this type of dialogue. PERIOD.”
His counterpart in the Democratic Party joined in.
“The Libertarian Party of NH encouraging the assassination of Vice President Harris must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Political violence is never acceptable, and their statement was disgusting, dangerous and wrong,” Buckley posted on social media.
And the national Libertarian Party’s nominee for president, Chase Oliver, also issued a statement condemning the Granite State chapter of his own party.
“I 100% condemn the statement from LPNH regarding Kamala Harris. It is abhorrent and should never have been posted.
“As Libertarians, we condemn the use of force, whether committed by governments, individuals, or other political entities. We are dedicated to the principle of non-aggression and to peaceful solutions to conflict. This is also something we pledge as part of attaining party membership. LPNH’s statement should rightfully be condemned by all people.”
