Suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt makes first court appearance

The suspect in an apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump is making his first appearance Monday in federal court in Florida.

The man, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, appeared in shackles and dark blue jail attire before magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe, NBC News reported.

He appeared unbothered and nonchalant as he sat with a public defender in the courtroom in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, NBC reported.

Routh was arrested Sunday after U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach while the Republican nominee was playing a round.

An agent spotted a rifle with a scope in the bushes and fired multiple shots, causing the person holding the weapon to flee the area in a black Nissan, officials said at a news conference Sunday. Routh was arrested in a neighboring county.

A rifle, two backpacks and a GoPro camera were recovered near the golf course, officials said.

Trump was not harmed. In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, he wrote, “It was certainly an interesting day!”

The incident could mark the second assassination attempt against him in two months.

Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet during a prior assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July. The shooter in that attack, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed seconds after he opened fire.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said in a statement Sunday that she was glad her Republican rival was safe, adding, “Violence has no place in America.”

President Joe Biden on Monday morning told reporters outside the White House that the Secret Service “needs more help.”

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.