Key Points
- Shots were fired near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
- US Secret Service said the former president is safe.
- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been briefed about the incident.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is safe after multiple shots were fired near his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to two sources briefed on the incident.
The shots originated outside the fence line of the course, the sources told Reuters news agency.
The Associated Press cited two law enforcement officials as saying US Secret Service agents opened fire after seeing a person with a firearm near Trump’s golf club while the presidential candidate was golfing.
The person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended in a nearby county by local law enforcement, the officials said.
Trump’s campaign had earlier said in a statement he was safe following gunshots in his vicinity but gave no details.
The Secret Service said it was investigating the incident, which occurred shortly before 2pm (local time).
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, cited local law enforcement as saying an AK-47 automatic weapon had been discovered in bushes and a suspect has been apprehended, according to a post on X.
Trump was injured in , just months ahead of what looks likely to be highly contested 5 November election in which he will be pitted against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The was a glaring security lapse that forced Kimberly Cheatle to resign as Secret Service director under bipartisan congressional pressure.
Trump was grazed in the right ear and one rally-goer was killed in the gunfire.
The gunman,, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The White House said in a statement that US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the incident and were “relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team”.
