Former President Donald Trump recounted his personal experience surviving a second assassination attempt in his first public interview since the incident.
Speaking on X Spaces, Trump detailed the harrowing events that unfolded on Sunday as he played a peaceful round of golf at Trump International Golf Club.
During the interview, Trump said the day had been calm and uneventful until he and his group heard gunshots ring out near the course.
“Everything was beautiful, nice place to be, and all of a sudden we heard shots being fired in the air, and I guess probably four or five, and it sounded like bullets,” Trump recalled.
Despite the danger, Trump’s humor shone through when he said, “I would have loved to have sunk that last putt, but we decided, ‘Let’s get out of here.’”
The Secret Service located the gunman, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, who had positioned himself near the club’s perimeter with a scoped SKS-style rifle
A sharp-eyed Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of Routh’s rifle poking through the bushes and immediately opened fire, forcing Routh to flee the scene.
Trump praised the actions of the Secret Service during the incident, stating, “They did a great job … the sheriff’s office, law enforcement, everyone did a great job.”
Routh was apprehended shortly after fleeing, thanks to a civilian who had the presence of mind to take photos of Routh’s vehicle, including the license plate number, which was handed over to law enforcement.
Trump also acknowledged the bravery of the unnamed civilian, saying, “The civilian did a phenomenal job. A woman. … How many people would have the brainpower to follow him and take pictures of the back of his truck?”
In a follow-up interview from Mar-a-Lago, Trump reflected on the series of assassination attempts he has survived
“There’s something going on, perhaps it’s God,” Trump said, hinting that these events may have a greater purpose. He quipped, “Perhaps it’s God wanting me to be president to save this country.”
This latest assassination attempt follows a previous one in July during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a shooter opened fire as Trump delivered his speech. During that attempt, Trump narrowly avoided injury, though two others were hurt.
Trump concluded by reiterating his gratitude for the swift actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement, noting that Routh is now behind bars. “Hopefully, he’s going to be there for a long time,” Trump said.