Donald Trump assassination bid live updates: FBI probing possible attempt to ‘assassinate’ former US President

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The FBI, Secret Service and Palm County Beach police will be holding a media briefing at 4 pm Eastern Time, to give updates on the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump, reported CNN.

The briefing will take place near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The suspect in an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Ryan Routh, reportedly lay in wait for him on a golf course for 12 hours, according to phone records from the court proceeding obtained by CNN.

The court documents also revealed that he was convicted in 2002 for “possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction,” and he was convicted in 2010 for “multiple counts of possession of stolen goods.”

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Florida governor Ron DeSantis has stated that the state will carry out an independent and separate investigation as federal agencies also have pending cases against Donald Trump, reported CNN.

In a news conference in Orlando, DeSantis said, “I look at the federal government…those same agencies that are prosecuting Trump in that jurisdiction are now going to be investigating this… I just think that that may not be the best thing for this country.”

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: In an interview with Fox News Digital, Donald Trump blamed the “highly-inflammatory language” used by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for encouraging the alleged assassination attempt made on him.

He said that the suspected gunman acted on the “rhetoric” of the President and Vice President, whose comments cast him as a “threat to democracy”.

“It is called the enemy from within,” he said to Fox News. “They are the real threat.”

Both Biden and Harris have issued statements condemning political violence and expressing relief for the safety of Donald Trump, who is the Republican presidential nominee in the upcoming elections.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The next hearing in the case of an alleged assassination attempt against Donald Trump will be held next Monday on September 23, reported CNN.

The hearing will deal with whether the suspect, Ryan Routh, should remain in custody. Prosecutors are asking that he stay behind bars, citing that he is a flight risk and a danger to the community.

The suspect had been laughing and smiling before the hearing began but became expressionless after the hearing started.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: A court hearing for suspect, Ryan Routh, for an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump, lasted only 10 minutes, reported CNN.

In the hearing, the 58-year-old was presented with charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obstructed serial number. The first offence is punishable by up to 15 years while the second one carries a sentence of 5 years in prison.

He was also questioned about his assets, to which he stated that he had “zero funds”, apart from two trucks in Hawaii worth about $1,000 each and $3,000 earned per month.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is all set to meet the acting Secret Service chief Ronald Rowe today, after he survived an alleged assassination attempt, according to CBS news.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Palm Beach County sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed in an interview with Fox News that Ryan Routh did not fire any shots on the golf course.

According to him, the Secret Service saw a rifle and shot in that direction, before escorting Trump away to protect him. Routh, who is suspected of an attempt to assassinate Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, did not fire his weapon at any point.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: President Joe Biden has stated that he has not received a full report of the attempted assasination of Donald Trump.

He also said, that it was apparent the Secret Service needed more help in protecting Trump, reported Reuters. He stated that Congress needed to take a decision on granting more personnel and funds to the Secret Service.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Ryan Routh, the suspect accused of allegedly trying to assassinate Donald Trump, is expected to face federal charges when he appears in a local court today, CBS News reported.

The suspect will not face state charges, according to Palm Beach County’s state attorney Dave Aronberg said. The investigation against him by the FBI is ongoing.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Ryan Routh, the alleged gunman behind an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, criticised the latter in his self-published book on the Ukraine war, according to CNN.

In his book, he referred to the Republican presidential nominee as a “fool”, “buffoon” and “idiot” for what he perceived as a major mistake in foreign policy, when Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

He also called the January 6 storming of the capital, a catastrophe perpetrated by “Donald Trump and his undemocratic posse”.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned political violence in response to an assassination attempt on presidential nominee Donald Trump.

In a post on X, he stated, “ I am glad to hear [Donald Trump] is safe and unharmed. This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world.”

He also sent his best wishes to Trump and his family and lauded the quick apprehension of the suspect.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The Russian government has reacted to the assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying that “playing with fire” had consequences, with reference to the alleged Ukrainian links of the shooter.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was following the tense situation in the United States, and said that Russia was not interfering in the presidential election, reported Reuters.

They also said that the assassination bid was a sign of the presidential campaign “intensifying” and the political struggle in the country escalating.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: A representative from Ukraine’s foreign legion told CNN that the accused Ryan Routh was never a part of their unit.

News agencies reported that he had expressed strong support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia and tried recruiting foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine.

“He was offering us large numbers of recruits from different countries but it was obvious to us his offers were not realistic. We didn’t even answer, there was nothing to answer to. He was never part of the Legion and didn’t cooperate with us in any way,” the representative told CNN.

The International Legion Defence of Ukraine or the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, is a military unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces composed of foreign volunteers.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: “My father is running out of lives here. How many more rifles are going to come within assassination distance of my father?,” asked Eric Trump while speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that he was shocked to hear about the second ‘assassination’ attempt at Donald Trump.

“Sara and I were shocked by the second assassination attempt against President Trump and were relieved to hear that it too failed. But we should not rely on luck. We send our best wishes to Donald and Melania along with our hopes that all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the US presidency will be foiled in advance,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: An attempted assassination bid from close distance has raised doubts on the security arrangements for the Republican Presidential candidate.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noted at a briefing that because Trump is no longer in office, security protocols around the course had loosened.

“He’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, his security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” he told reporters. (AP)

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Secret Service and Homeland Security agents checked a former home of a suspect Ryan W. Routh. The FBI is investigating what they said was an apparent “assassination” attempt in Florida on Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Trump took to his platform Truth Social to post his first reaction after escaping an apparent ‘assassination’ attempt.

“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE. THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!,” his post read.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Democratic party’s Vice-Presidential nominee Tim Waltz said he is ‘glad’ that Trump is safe.

“Gwen and I are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe. Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation,” he wrote on X.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement said she was ‘deeply disturbed’ by possible assassination attempt at Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” Harris said in a statement released by the White House.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The arrested suspect Ryan Wesley Routh frequently posted on social media about the Ukraine war and had a website where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to go to Kyiv to join the fight against the Russian invasion.

In June 2020, he made a post on X directed at then-President Donald Trump to say he would win re-election if he issued an executive order for the Justice Department to prosecute police misconduct. That year, he also posted in support of the Democratic presidential campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has since left the party and endorsed Trump.

However, in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on Trump, and he expressed support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP)

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: The suspect fled the scene after Secret Service agents engaged him. As he fled, the police sent out an alert to statewide agencies with the information on his vehicle, which led to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw’s deputies in neighbouring Martin County apprehending the suspect on I-95 about 40 miles (65 km) from the golf course.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Secret Service agents saw a rifle barrel poking out from bushes about 400 to 500 yards (365 to 460 meters) away from Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play.

As the agents engaged the gunman, he dropped his rifle, and left behind two backpacks and other items, and fled in a black Nissan car. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a witness saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate before he escaped.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said people deserve to know the ‘truth’ on how the assassin “was able to get within 500 yards of the former President and current GOP nominee”.

“The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club,” said the Republican Governor in a post on X.