Trump was about to put when shots were fired. Then, Secret Service noticed rifle

It was just another day on the Florida golf course for Donald Trump — former US President and Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential race — until it wasn’t. As Trump lined up his shot at his West Palm Beach club on Monday, the Secret Service caught something unusual: the muzzle of a rifle barrel poking through the bushes near the fence line.

Learning from past mistakes, where a shooter once slipped through security and injured Trump, this time the Secret Service didn’t hesitate. They opened fire — but missed. The gunman, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, managed to evade immediate capture.

Officials stated that the gunman was approximately 300 to 500 yards (275 to 450 meters) away from Trump at the time of the incident.

The harrowing moment serves as a chilling reminder of the ever-present danger surrounding the former president. But the question now is: How did Routh get so close — and what happens next?

Unlike most high-profile figures who retreat to secluded estates with towering walls, Trump spends much of his time at an accessible club, rubbing shoulders with paying members and unwinding on golf courses. But on this occasion, relaxation turned to alarm.

“The threat level is high," Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, told reporters on Sunday. “We live in danger times."

Zipping back to the assassination attempt, after the Secret Services noticed the rifle, and the suspect, an agent fired on him, but missed. Replaying the Butler scene, the Secret Service agents swiftly surrounded Trump, using their own bodies as shields. With quick precision, they escorted the former president to the safety of the golf course clubhouse. For 15 agonising minutes, Trump stayed under protection before being whisked back to Mar-a-Lago.

But the danger wasn’t over. The assailant had slipped away, leaving law enforcement scrambling for leads. Yet the escape was short-lived. Martin County Sheriff William D Snyder revealed that deputies flooded northbound I-95 in pursuit, deploying officers to every exit from Palm Beach County to St Lucie County.

“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes -- It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the US Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated patriots, and, all of the law enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential election, SAFE,” the presidential candidate said.