'Violence has no place': Biden, Harris react to Trump assassination attempt in Florida

As the second assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump stirred a major storm, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris reacted to the incident. On Sunday, multiple shots were fired in the vicinity of Trump while he was at his golf course in Florida.

Shortly after the incident, the authorities arrested the suspect and the FBI eventually deemed it as an “assassination attempt” on the former president. Soon after the reports of the shooting spread like wildfire, the White House released a statement in which they noted that both US President Joe Biden and Harris had been briefed on the matter.

“The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the White House on Sunday.

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Biden took to X, formerly known as Twitter and stated that he is relieved that the former president is “unharmed”. “I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today,” the POTUS wrote on X.

“I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened,” he said in a separate post.

Biden maintained that there is no place for political violence in the country. “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 the Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” he averred.

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I am relieved that the former President is unharmed.

There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened.

— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) September 16, 2024

The remarks from Biden came after Trump wrote in a statement released by his campaign on Sunday, “I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”

‘Violence has no place’: Harris 

Meanwhile, Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris issued a statement in which she confirmed that she was briefed about the situation. She went on to reiterate that violence has “no place” in the United States of America.

“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America,” Harris said in her post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.

— Vice President Kamala Harris Archived (@VP46Archive) September 15, 2024

Harris is expected to go head-to-head against the former US President in the 2024 race for the White House. Harris’ candidacy came after Biden ended his re-election bid.

Following the arrest of the suspect, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that the authorities found two backpacks and a GoPro camera, against the fence along with an AK-47 rifle.

What we know so far

While Bradshaw kept the identity of the suspect hidden, the Republican Florida state representative John Snyder wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the main culprit was a “white man”. “The suspect in custody related to the #Trump shooting incident is a white male, in his mid-60s,” Snyder wrote in the post.

Meanwhile, three local law enforcement officials, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, named him as Ryan Wesley Routh. Voter registration documents indicated that Routh was either aged 57 or 58 and was residing in Julien. He was registered as a Democrat, having voted most recently in March this year.

The suspect in custody related to the #Trump shooting incident is a white male, in his mid 60’s.

— John Snyder (@Johnfsnyder) September 15, 2024

A now-suspended social media account which allegedly belonged to the person featured numerous posts strongly supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. It is pertinent to note that during the presidential debate against US Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump was hesitant to state whether he wants Ukraine to win in the ongoing war against Russia.

The unharmed incident took place on Sunday at 1:30 pm (local time) while Trump was playing around the 5th and 6th hole. Bradshaw stated that the suspect was spotted between 300 and 500 yards from where Trump was, but “with a rifle and the scope like that, that’s not a long distance,” the Sheriff averred.

“Fortunately we were able to locate a witness who came to us and said, ‘Hey, I saw the guy running out of the bushes, he jumped into a black Nissan, and I took a picture of the vehicle and the tag,’” Bradshaw explained during the press briefing.

“We were able to get a hit on that vehicle on I-95. The witness that witnessed the incident, we took him up there and he identified [the suspect] as the person he saw running out of the bushes and jumped into the car," he added.

Shortly after the suspect was taken into custody, the FBI released a statement in which they maintained that the incident was likely to be the second assassination attempt against Trump in the last two months. Trump was injured after he was shot during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

With inputs from agencies.