Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt May Have Waited 12 Hours

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Authorities charged a man on Monday with two gun-related crimes after he allegedly lay in wait for nearly 12 hours at Donald Trump’s Florida golf course in an apparent assassination attempt. The suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, was seen hiding in the bushes with a rifle as the former U.S. president played on the nearby fairway, though Trump was never in his direct line of sight, and no shots were fired.

The Secret Service spotted the barrel of a rifle emerging from the bushes, prompting agents to fire warning shots and swiftly evacuate Trump. Routh fled in a vehicle but was arrested 40 minutes later on Interstate 95. A loaded assault-style rifle, camera, and food supplies were found near the scene.

Court documents reveal that a phone linked to Routh was located at the golf course starting at 2 a.m. on Sunday, indicating he may have been waiting for over 11 hours before the incident. Routh, a convicted felon, is now charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted, more charges could follow.

The incident occurred just two months after another attempt on Trump’s life during a rally in Pennsylvania, raising concerns about Secret Service security. Trump praised his security team for their quick response but called for an increase in personnel on his detail.

While no official motive has been provided, Trump blamed inflammatory rhetoric from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the attempt. He claimed that such language had incited attacks on him, although no evidence has yet been offered to support this assertion. Both Biden and Harris condemned the incident, with Biden personally calling Trump to express his relief that the former president was unharmed.

Trump Safe After Another Assassination Attempt at Florida Golf Course

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was unharmed after the Secret Service foiled an apparent assassination attempt while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Law enforcement officials reported that Secret Service agents opened fire on a gunman hiding in bushes near the golf course’s property line, just a few hundred yards from Trump. The suspect, who fled the scene, left behind an AK-47-style assault rifle and other items but was later apprehended by police. This comes only two months after Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania.

The incident highlights the increasing challenges of protecting presidential candidates amid a polarized political environment, with the November election fast approaching. Trump thanked his supporters and praised law enforcement on social media, assuring everyone of his safety.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, from Hawaii, has been linked to social media profiles showing his support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Although the FBI declined to comment, Routh’s son expressed disbelief when reached by Reuters, saying he did not think his father would carry out such an act.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained that a Secret Service agent first spotted the gunman’s rifle barrel sticking out from the bushes about 400 to 500 yards from Trump. The suspect dropped his weapon and fled in a black Nissan after agents fired at him. Thanks to a witness’s photos of the gunman’s vehicle, the suspect was captured on Interstate 95, 40 miles from the golf course.

Trump, who was on the fifth hole at the time, described the ordeal to Fox News presenter Sean Hannity. Both Trump and his friend, real estate investor Steve Witkoff, recalled hearing gunfire before the Secret Service agents reacted swiftly to protect the former president.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the incident and expressed relief over Trump’s safety. Harris, who is now Trump’s Democratic opponent in the upcoming election, condemned the violence and reaffirmed the importance of democracy.

The assassination attempt followed a similar attack in July, where Trump was grazed by a bullet at a Pennsylvania rally. That incident, which resulted in the death of a rallygoer and the gunman, led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle due to security concerns.

 

Myanmar Hit by Deadly Floods After Typhoon Yagi

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Severe flooding has devastated Myanmar following Typhoon Yagi, displacing over 230,000 people and leaving at least 33 dead, according to the country’s military. The capital, Naypyidaw, is one of the hardest-hit areas, with authorities scrambling to set up temporary relief camps for those who have been made homeless. While the military reports 33 fatalities, Radio Free Asia claims the actual death toll may be much higher, estimating at least 160 lives lost due to floods and landslides.

The situation remains dire in areas like Taungoo, where rescue efforts are stretched thin. A local rescue worker described more than 300 people trapped by floodwaters along the Sittaung River, with a shortage of boats impeding rescue operations.

Typhoon Yagi, which has already impacted Vietnam, the Philippines, and China’s Hainan Island, is Asia’s most powerful storm this year. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity of such storms to climate change, noting that warmer ocean temperatures fuel stronger winds and heavier rainfall, resulting in more destructive storms.

Myanmar’s population is already grappling with the effects of a three-year civil war that has displaced more than 2.6 million people and left 18.6 million in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare is severely limited, further compounding the suffering caused by the floods.