In one of his first public appearances since a recent assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump shared his experience of hearing gunfire while golfing in southern Florida. He spoke during an interview with internet influencer Farokh Sarmad, streamed on X (formerly Twitter), to introduce a new cryptocurrency platform run by his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric.
This interview took place just a day after police arrested 58-year-old Ryan Routh in connection with the shooting incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
According to Trump, he was enjoying a round of golf with friends, including real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, when he heard what he described as “four or five shots” fired into the air. Following the disturbance, his group quickly hopped into golf carts to escape the scene.
“I was with an agent, who did an outstanding job,” Trump remarked, commending the U.S. Secret Service for their swift action. Another agent noticed a man brandishing a rifle through a shrub-lined fence, leading to the suspect fleeing the scene and later being apprehended in a nearby area.
Referring to Routh, Trump expressed relief over the arrest, emphasizing, “You wouldn’t want someone like that out there.” Routh now faces multiple charges, including possession of a firearm as a former felon, after authorities discovered an AK-47 and other equipment near where he was found.
This incident follows a similar assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, which resulted in Trump sustaining a minor injury and left one spectator dead.
In comments earlier in the day, Trump attributed the increasing violence to what he perceives as the inflammatory “rhetoric” from President Biden and Vice President Harris, a sentiment he reiterated during his chat with Sarmad.
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