Suspect in second apparent assassination attempt on ex-US president Trump appears in court News
Martin County Sheriff's Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Suspect in second apparent assassination attempt on ex-US president Trump appears in court

Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspected gunman in an assassination attempt on former US President Trump, appeared in a Florida federal courtroom Monday. Routh is facing several federal gun crimes including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The apparent attempted assassination took place while the former president was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh was taken into custody after Secret Service agents spotted and shot at him. This attempt comes only nine weeks after Trump faced another assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Donald Trump Jr. addressed the shooting Monday morning on X (formerly Twitter):

You know what’s getting really old? Having to have conversations with my 5 young children about radical leftist trying to kill their grandfather. No person should ever have to do this in America or anywhere else and yet I had to have that conversation five times again yesterday.

The FBI is continuing to investigate as demand for increased security for the former president. House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke of the matter on X stating that “getting answers to how President Trump has now faced multiple assassination attempts is a top priority.” Congressman Eric Sonensen also released a statement addressing the issue:

While we learn the motivations of this case, it’s important we stop the political divisiveness that causes people to react with dangerous intent. And let me be clear, political violence has no place in the United States of America.

Routh has invoked his right to remain silent during the ongoing investigation.

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