According to the US Secret Service, one or more agents “opened fire on a gunman” positioned near Trump’s golf course in Florida. The suspect was armed with an “AK-47 style rifle” equipped with a scope and a GoPro video camera, which was recovered from the scene.
In response to the incident, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a controversial statement on X (formerly Twitter).Replying to a user who questioned the motives behind the assassination attempts on Trump, Elon Musk pointed out that there have been no such attempts on the current President and Vice President, stating, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala”.
US President Joe Biden issued a statement following the “assassination attempt” on Donald Trump, saying that he was relieved that Trump was safe. “I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today.A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed,” Biden said, as per a statement released by the White House.
Vice president Kamala Harris also responded to the incident and said she was ‘glad’ that former US President is safe after reported gunshots. “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe,” the US vice president wrote in a post on X.
“Violence has no place in America,” she added.
Musk endorsed Trump after first assassination attempt
This incident occurred less than two months after another assassination attempt on the former president in Pennsylvania. Following the first attempt, Musk expressed his support for the Republican presidential candidate, saying, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
Musk also compared Donald Trump to former US President Theodore Roosevelt, who was shot before a campaign event but still delivered his speech with a bullet lodged in his chest. “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt,” Musk remarked.