Pic credit – https://www.flickr.com/people/22007612@N05
By Brandon Boslem and Callum McArthur
Questions are yet again being asked about the role of America’s Secret Service organisation after another attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
At around 4.30pm (9.30pm UK time), the FBI reported gunshots outside the former President’s Mar-A-Lago Resort within Palm Beach, Florida – the second attempt on Trump’s life in the last sixty days.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw spoke to the assembled media in the hours following the event.
“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.”
The shooter was identified to the American press as Ryan Wesley Routh. He is reported to have been carrying a bag holding an AK-47 that had a scope attachment, along with a Go-Pro camera.
Many in the press and the wider political sphere has posed questions towards the Secret Service and its handling of the situation especially following a prior assassination attempt upon former President Trump’s life only two months prior.
Former FBI special agent Phil Andrew told Sky News that there is clearly a “security issue” surrounding Trump’s life.
The Californian Democratic Rep Ro Khanna posted on X: “Two assassination attempts in 60 days on a former president and the Republican nominee is unacceptable. The Secret Service must come to Congress tomorrow, tell us what resources are needed to expand the protective perimeter, and let’s allocate it in a bipartisan vote the same day.”
Trump, who is the Republican’s official nominee for the upcoming presidential election in November responded on Instagram defending the security arrangements: “I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office of brave and dedicated patriots.” And he went on to say that, “THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.”
Despite this, Donald Trump’s third child, Eric Trump, has reportedly provided a statement for Fox News where he claimed: “My father is running out of lives here.”, And even continued to add, “How many more rifles are going to come within assassination distance of my father.”
This appears to bring some level of criticism towards the handling of security referring to former president in contrast to Donald Trump’s own statement following the attempt upon his life.
President Biden has now directed his team to “continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.”
Routh is expected to appear in court later today to face federal charges in connection with the incident.
