Donald Trump on Monday blamed his election rival Kamala Harris and US President Joe Biden for a second apparent assassination attempt, saying their “rhetoric” that threatens democracy was to blame.
Trump’s swift politicisation of Sunday’s incident, in which a man allegedly planned to shoot at Republicans while golfing in Florida, ensured that tensions would continue to rise ahead of the presidential election in seven weeks.
Both Biden and Harris have condemned this assassination attempt.
Police identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was arrested shortly after he was seen lurking with an assault-style rifle along Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach. US Secret Service agents opened fire but missed, and he fled before surrendering without a struggle.
Routh appeared in court on Monday, where he was told he was being charged with illegally possessing a weapon. He appeared calm and did not speak except to say “yes” a few times to the judge’s questions.
The FBI announced it was also investigating an “attempted murder”.
This incident has happened two months after an attempt to target Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. The former president was shot in that attack, in which a supporter present in the crowd also died, while the gunman was killed in retaliatory fire.
Trump — who was not hurt in Sunday’s incident — told Fox News Digital that Biden and Harris’ rhetoric was “causing people to shoot at me, when I’m the guy that’s going to save the country.”
Trump, 78, referred to frequent comments that he was a “threat to democracy.”
Biden and Harris have called Trump a threat to their campaign for refusing to concede defeat to Biden in 2020 and classifying the mob of his supporters who stormed Congress in 2021 as political dissidents.
Trump — whose main election message against Harris is based on dark warnings about an immigrant “invasion” and his claim that the United States is a “failed nation” that only he can save — said his opponent “uses highly inflammatory language.”
He said, “I can use it too – much better than theirs – but I don’t.”
Secret Service investigation
“Thank God the president is OK,” Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday.
But, he added, “The Secret Service needs more help,” and “I think Congress should pay attention to their needs.”
The security service had come under heavy criticism following the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, in which the attacker managed to climb onto a nearby roof to view the rally.
As a major party nominee and former president, Trump has a large security ring, but smaller than that of a sitting president. This meant bodyguards could not cordon off the entire golf course, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said, describing how the suspect was able to get within a few hundred yards of Trump before he was stopped.
According to US media, the potential attacker has a long criminal record and was deeply affected by the Ukrainian issue. He traveled to Ukraine and claimed he wanted to volunteer and was recruiting foreign fighters to help stop Russia’s invasion. He gave several media interviews in 2022, including to AFP.
However, there is no evidence that he ever fought there or was able to join the Ukrainian army. His presence on social media suggests he has a variety of political affiliations at home.
fear of widespread violence
As the presidential race enters its final week, the intensity of the threats is growing and polls indicate a close contest on November 5.
The latest twist comes after days of tensions in the city of Springfield, Ohio, as a result of conspiracy theories spread by Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance about the local Haitian immigrant community.
Schools and other public institutions have been repeatedly closed since Thursday following threats.
There is also widespread concern that if Trump loses to Harris he will again refuse to concede defeat, which could lead to a repeat of the violence that occurred on January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed Congress to prevent the certification of Biden’s victory two months earlier.
Trump used Sunday’s event to appeal for campaign funds, posting on social media on Monday: “Fight, Fight, Fight!!!!!” and “Donate Today!”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
