The US remains under shock after the second assassination attempt against presidential candidate Donald Trump (78) this summer.
A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel in the bushes during a round of golf for the Republican in West Palm Beach (Florida) and fired. The attacker, Wesley Ryan Routh (58), was arrested. The fact that Trump, this time unharmed, once again narrowly escaped death raises questions:
Was the Secret Service protection adequate?
After the first assassination attempt in Butler (Pennsylvania) in mid-July, Trump’s personal security was increased: But still, within 64 days, a heavily armed gunman came “within 400 meters of him,” as Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (40) complained. According to experts, the area in front of the resort fence should also have been secured. But the bodyguards do not have the manpower for this. However, local police forces were not called in.
How did the assassin know about Trump’s golf plans?
It is well known that Trump likes to play golf near his Mar-a-Lago home at the weekend – his arrival at the “Trump International Golf Course” in a convoy of cars was conspicuous. It is speculated that Routh observed the area and took up position after Trump’s arrival. In any case, Trump’s round of golf on Sunday was not publicly reported. Wild theories are also promptly circulating about a wider conspiracy against Trump, in which the shooter may have been leaked information.
What were the shooter’s motives?
Social media postings point to political hatred: Routh, a construction worker from North Carolina who lives in Hawaii, had voted for Trump in 2016, but most recently saw him as a “danger to democracy”, echoing the warnings of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris (59). Routh’s anger over Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine also seemed huge. He wanted to “die” for the war-torn country and called on Afghan fighters via social media to help Kiev on the front lines. His neighbors in Hawaii were afraid of the convicted eccentric. “He seems crazy,” said one. An old “Biden-Harris” campaign sticker was stuck on his pickup truck.
How was the tragedy prevented?
Trump probably owes his life to a member of the Secret Service: Because someone in the advance party, which was always checking the situation a golf hole ahead of him, spotted a gun barrel and scope sticking out of the fence at 1:30 p.m. local time Sunday. Shots were fired and Trump was immediately taken to safety. If someone is hiding in the bushes, it’s “very hard to see”, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw praised the spotting of the danger.
Trump thanked his bodyguards. And said combative: “I will never surrender!”
