Trump says his second assassination attempt was ‘certainly an interesting day!’

Donald Trump sent a message of gratitude to his supporters and law enforcement after what the FBI called an assassination attempt on the former president at his Florida golf course on Sunday.

“I want to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes. It’s been an interesting day!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform hours after Secret Service members opened fire on a gunman hiding in bushes as the Republican presidential candidate played a round at his West Palm Beach golf course. Trump was unharmed in the incident, which came two months after he was shot by another gunman at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Find Out How Close Suspected Assassin Ryan Routh Came to Shooting Trump From Secret Sniper’s Nest

“Most importantly, I want to thank the United States Secret Service, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his office of courageous and dedicated patriots, and all law enforcement agencies for the incredible work they did today at Trump International to keep me, as the 45th President of the United States and the Republican nominee for the next presidential election, safe,” Trump continued in his message.

“THE WORK YOU DID WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING,” he added. “I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

Bradshaw said a Secret Service agent, as is standard procedure, went a hole or two away from where Trump was playing. He said the agent spotted the barrel of a rifle sticking out of a fence surrounding the course, prompting him to “immediately” engage the shooter, who was about 300 to 500 yards from Trump.

The gunmen then fled, leaving behind an AK-47-style sniper rifle, two bags and a GoPro camera, as Trump’s security guards whisked him away.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was later arrested in Martin County, according to reports. Bradshaw said the suspect was arrested thanks to a witness who saw the shooter flee the scene and recorded the license plate number of his black Nissan.

In addition to his Truth Social post, Trump also sent an email to potential donors Sunday night in which he cited the incident in an effort to raise money for his presidential campaign. “There have been shots fired in my neighborhood, but before the rumors start getting out of hand, I first wanted you to hear this: I AM SAFE AND HEALTHY!” Trump wrote in the email. “Nothing is going to slow me down.”

The US president also thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement after Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. Crooks was killed by snipers in the attack. Despite the former president’s praise, the Secret Service has come under intense scrutiny over how the incident could have happened and the agency’s director at the time, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned after admitting responsibility for the security failures.

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