Donald Trump describes golf course shooting: '4-5 shots rang out of nowhere' in first detailed account of 2nd assassination attempt

Former President Donald Trump detailed an assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf course on Sunday. Trump commended the US Secret Service, local law enforcement, and a helpful witness for their effective response.

The incident occurred as Trump was playing golf. “I was enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning, playing golf with friends. The weather was beautiful, and everything seemed perfect,” Trump recalled during an X Spaces conversation. He mentioned hearing what sounded like gunshots.

Secret Service agents quickly took action. “The Secret Service acted swiftly. They grabbed me and another friend, Steve Witkoff, and we quickly moved away from the course,” Trump said. An agent noticed the barrel of a rifle through the bushes and fired at it. This prevented the shooter from targeting Trump directly.


Thanks to a witness who photographed the suspect’s vehicle, law enforcement soon arrested the suspect. "She did an incredible job. She followed the suspect and took pictures of his truck, which led to finding his license plate. With that information, authorities were able to track him down on the highway,” Trump said.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was charged with federal gun crimes, including possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. He was caught after a high-speed chase on Interstate 95, 45 minutes after the incident. Routh was calm during his court appearance, responding “yes” to questions from Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe.

A detention hearing is set for September 23, with further arraignment on September 30. Authorities recovered a loaded rifle, a digital camera, a backpack, and food at the scene. Routh had reportedly been near the golf course for nearly 12 hours.

This is the second direct threat against Trump in recent months, following a previous attempt during a July rally in Pennsylvania.