President Joe Biden has stated that the Secret Service “needs more help” following an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. This call for additional support comes in the wake of the recent attack, underscoring the heightened security demands surrounding Trump. The incident, which occurred at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, highlights ongoing concerns about his safety and the adequacy of current protective measures.
The FBI has announced that former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. This incident occurred just nine weeks after Trump survived a previous assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, where he was grazed by a bullet.
Also Read: Trump Golf Course Shooting: Suspect Identified as Ryan Wesley Routh
Increased Call for Secret Service Protection
Following the recent threat, House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that the House will demand enhanced Secret Service protection for Trump. Johnson emphasized that Trump faces unprecedented levels of threat, arguably surpassing even the security risks he encountered while in the Oval Office. Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Johnson asserted, “He’s the most attacked. He’s the most threatened, even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office.” He confirmed that the House will push for all available security assets to be allocated to Trump.
Johnson, who was en route to visit Trump when the latest incident occurred, reported that Trump was in “good spirits” following the attack. Johnson and his wife, Kelly, spent about three hours with the former president after the incident.
Congressional Response and Investigation
The bipartisan task force investigating the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania is closely monitoring the situation in Florida and has requested a briefing from the Secret Service. The task force, which includes Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), has expressed gratitude that Trump was unharmed but remains deeply concerned about political violence. The task force plans to hold a hearing later this month to examine the issue further and develop recommendations for Congress.
Suspect in Custody
The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, appeared briefly in a Florida courtroom on Monday morning. Routh, clad in a dark blue jail jumpsuit and shackled, showed no visible signs of nervousness during his brief court appearance. He is now awaiting further proceedings.
Security Concerns and Local Response
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County reported that the gunman was positioned approximately 400 to 500 yards away from Trump and concealed in shrubbery while the former president was on the golf course. Bradshaw noted that the security presence at the golf course was limited compared to what would be in place if Trump were still the sitting president. “When people get into the shrubbery around the course, they’re pretty much out of sight,” Bradshaw said. He added that, given Trump’s high profile and campaign activities, his protective detail is more substantial compared to other public figures.
Ongoing Security Measures
U.S. officials indicated that Trump’s security had been increased following a threat from Iran shortly before the July assassination attempt. President Biden has also called for additional support for the Secret Service in light of the recent incident.
