US President Donald Trump recently survived another “apparent assassination” attempt while at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The President remained unharmed and was escorted to safety when the alleged assassin was discovered and shot at by the Secret Service. The marks a second assassination attempt at Donald Trump in two months, making him the second US President to have been targeted twice and surviving both attempts.

The Assassination Attempt 

The gunman, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh (58), was arrested and charged with several firearm offences. The suspect was charged in federal court on Monday with two firearms counts with additional charges likely to follow. The Secret Service agents reportedly saw him during a sweep of the area. The agents opened fire at the suspect prompting him to flee from the spot.

The FBI and the Secret Service claim that at no point during his stay at the ambush spot did the suspect have a line of sight to the ex-President. However, the next round during Trump’s golf match would have taken him closer to the gunman. Authorities believe that Routh may have been lurking near the President’s location for about 12 hours before being spotted. The President was around 300-500 yards (around 275 to 460 meters) away from where Routh was spotted.

Routh was arrested sometime after he fled by the Florida state police. The police were tipped off to his vehicle, a black Nissan SUV, by a witness at the scene.

Images later revealed by the FBI showed a bag and a backpack hanging from the fence where Routh was “hiding”. He was reportedly carrying an AK-47, a GoPro Camera, and ceramic bulletproof body armor.  

The FBI informs that Routh has several prior convictions, including one for possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) in North Carolina in 2002. Routh was also reportedly a part of a team of American Volunteers who traveled to Ukraine to support the war effort against Russia.

First Assassination attempt:  

Trump narrowly escaped death on July 13, 2024, when the bullet fired from an AR-15 rifle by Thomas Matthew Crooks (20) grazed his ear during a Republican rally in Pennsylvania. Crooks was shot down by the Secret Service following the attempt. While Trump escaped with minor injuries, one attendee was killed by the bullet intended for the US President.

Gerald J Ford’s double assassination attempt 

Donald Trump became the second US President to have been targeted twice. The 38th President of the United States and also a Republican, Gerald R. Ford was directly attacked on two occasions just three weeks apart. The first attempt at his life came at the hands of Lynette Alice Fromme, a member of the “Manson Family” cult, which failed due to her pistol misfiring, according to the US Congressional Research Service. The second attempt by ideologist Sara Jane Moore failed as she missed two shots fired from her .38 Special revolver.

Second attempt a cause for concern? 

All former US Presidents receive lifetime protection by the Secret Service, even after their term is over under the Former Presidents Act of 1958. This protection can be adjusted based on the current threat level and other factors. Donald Trump had received some additional protection due to running for the Presidential elections and being a former President. Even during a Presidential Campaign, candidates and their families receive protection for 120 days prior to the general elections.

However, the double apparent assassination attempt at Trump has raised question regarding the security of the Presidential candidates. A second incident involving an assault rifle is deeply alarming and concerning.

Both the incidents highlight a flaw in the perimeter security of the Security Service as Routh was reportedly present at the “hiding spot” for 12 hours, where he was able to see the President golfing.

Similarly, the gunman in Pennsylvania was able to find a perch just outside the rally location with a direct line of sight to where the ex-President was giving his speech. He was also dispatched after he managed to fire off a potentially lethal shot at the President.

The Secret Service plans to conduct an internal review of the incident at the golf course, like the one initiated after the shooting in Butler.