Trump's apparent assassination attempt at Florida golf course: What we know so far

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Former President Donald Trump is safe after an apparent assassination attempt while playing golf in Florida – two months after another attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.

U.S. Secret Service agents protecting the Republican presidential nominee at one of his golf courses in West Palm Beach fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope. Local authorities said the gunman was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery.

RELATED: Florida to launch investigation into Donald Trump assassination attempt, Gov. Ron DeSantis says

In response, President Joe Biden on Monday said the Secret Service "needs more help."

Here’s everything we know so far:

Trump assassination attempt: What’s known

The incident happened at Trump International Golf Club, located about 4.5 miles inland from his famed Mar-a-Lago club. 

Ric Bradshaw, sheriff of Palm Beach County, said that when people get into the shrubbery around the golf course, "they’re pretty much out of sight." 

Bradshaw said the entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement if Trump were the sitting president, but because he’s not, "security is limited to the areas the Secret Service deems possible." The visit was also not on Trump's official public record for the day's activities. 

Acting Director of the U.S. Secret Service Ronald Rowe said Monday at a news conference that the suspect, Ryan Routh, did not have a line of sight to Trump when he was engaged by the Secret Service agent, and that the suspect did not fire off or get any shots at the Secret Service agent. 

Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. 

His security was bolstered days before the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat to Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.

Ryan Wesley Routh: Who is the alleged suspect?

Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the rifle and was arrested was 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh. 

He was arrested in a neighboring county within minutes of authorities putting out a "very urgent" alert detailing his vehicle, license plate number and description of him.

Monday morning, Routh appeared briefly in a courtroom in West Palm Beach and was charged with federal gun crimes, including: 

• Possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon
• Possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Additional and more serious charges are possible as the investigation continues and prosecutors seek an indictment.

Jeffrey B. Veltri, the Special Agent in Charge at the Miami Field Office, said during a Monday press conference that Routh's cell data shows activity nearly 12 hours in the vicinity before the confrontation with Secret Service. 

Routh lived in North Carolina for most of his life before moving in 2018 to Kaaawa, Hawaii, where he and his son operated a company building sheds, according to the Associated Press, citing an archived version of the webpage for the business and other online records.

Veltri said the FBI was looking into how long Routh had been in Florida before Sunday's incident at the golf club. 

Routh frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine 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 Trump to say he would win reelection 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.

In July, following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh urged Biden and Harris to visit those wounded in the shooting at the hospital and to attend the funeral of a former fire chief killed at the rally.

Voter records show he registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012, most recently voting in person during the state’s Democratic Party primary in March 2024. Federal campaign finance records show Routh made 19 small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 using his Hawaii address to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates.

READ MORE: Ryan Routh: Who is the alleged suspect in the Trump assassination attempt in Florida?

Trump assassination attempt suspect's criminal history

A background check reviewed by FOX News Digital found that Routh has had repeated run-ins with law enforcement spanning decades in North Carolina. A majority of the arrests included ones for simple possession, driving without a license, driving with an expired registration, driving without insurance. 

In 2002, the Greensboro News & Record reported Ryan Routh was arrested after barricading himself in United Roofing’s office in a three-hour standoff. 

Routh had been pulled over by police during a traffic stop, but put his hand on a gun during the stop, sparking him to drive to United Roofing and barricade himself in the building, the outlet reported at the time. He was arrested without incident after the stand-off. 

He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon of mass destruction,  resisting, delaying and obstructing a law enforcement officer and driving while license revoked. State records show he was sentenced to probation in the case. 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said Monday afternoon at a press conference that Routh had two felonies, one in North Carolina from Dec 2002 and one from March 2010. He did not elaborate further. 

Veltri added at the same press conference that Routh was the subject of a closed 2019 FBI investigation after a tip alleged he was a felon in possession of a firearm. Veltri said the complainant wouldn't verify providing the initial information to authorities and the tip was closed.

What has Trump said? 

In an email to supporters, Trump said: "There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!"

His running mate, JD Vance, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they spoke with Trump after the incident, and both said he was in "good spirits."

Late Sunday, Trump posted a message on social media thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement for keeping him safe, calling them "brave and dedicated Patriots," adding that it was "certainly an interesting day!"

He was to be briefed in person Monday by acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe about the investigation into the assassination attempt, according to the Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the plan for the briefing who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president's, said on air that he spoke with Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff. They told Hannity they had been on the fifth hole when they heard a "pop pop, pop pop." Within seconds, he said Witkoff recounted, Secret Service agents "pounced on" Trump and "covered him" to protect him.

Moments later, Witkoff said, a "fast cart" with steel reinforcement and other protection was able to whisk Trump away.

Hannity said Trump’s reaction after this happened — and when it was clear that everyone, including Witkoff, was safe — was to quip that he was sad he hadn’t been able to finish the hole since he "was even and had a birdie putt."

Harris, Biden, others react to latest apparent assassination attempt

Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent in the presidential election, posted on X that she had been briefed on the reports of gunshots fired.

"I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America."

The White House said President Joe Biden and Harris would be kept updated on the investigation. 

"As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety," Biden said in a statement on Sunday night.

On Monday, Biden stopped to talk to reporters before boarding Marine One and noted that the U.S. Secret Service "needs more help."

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also said in a statement that he’d been briefed by the Secret Service about the incident. 

"I applaud the Secret Service for their quick response to ensure former President Trump’s safety," the Democratic leader said on X. "There is no place in this country for political violence of any kind. The perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."