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

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.

Donald Trump assassination bid newupdates: Republican Vice-Presidential nominee JD Vance expressed his happiness that “President Trump is safe” and said the former US President remains in “good spirits”.

“Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” Vance posted on X.

Donald Trump assassination bid newsupdates: Republican Vivek Ramaswamy termed the attempted ‘assassination’ bid at Donald Trump as “unacceptable and un-American”.

Urging the Secret Service to step up its protection of the former President, Ramaswamy said “growing pattern of political violence” in the US “needs to STOP right now”.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: Law enforcement officials arrested the key suspect behind suspected ‘assassination’ attempt at Donald Trump.

The suspect left an AK-47-style assault rifle and other items at the scene and fled in a vehicle but was later arrested. News outlets CNN, Fox News and The New York Times identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, from Hawaii.

Donald Trump assassination bid news updates: President Biden directed the Secret Service use “every resource” in its disposal to protect Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Biden insisted that there is “no space” for political violence in the United States.

Donald Trump shooting bid live updates: Senator Lindsey Graham in a post on X said Donald Trump remains in ‘’good spirits” after yet another shooting incident in his campaign to secure another term in the White House.

Graham said he had spoken with Trump after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”