'Out of nowhere we heard 4-5 shots’: Donald Trump gives first detailed account of golf course shooting

Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump on Monday provided a detailed account of the assassination attempt that took place on Sunday at his West Palm Beach golf course. He praised the US Secret Service, local law enforcement, and a quick-thinking witness whose actions were crucial in capturing the suspect.
“I was enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning, playing golf with friends.The weather was beautiful, and everything seemed perfect,” Trump recounted during an X Spaces conversation. “Then, out of nowhere, we heard what sounded like gunshots—probably four or five of them.”
According to Trump, the Secret Service agents immediately recognised the danger. “The Secret Service acted swiftly,” Trump said. “They grabbed me and another friend, Steve Witkoff, and we quickly moved away from the course.”
Trump described how an agent, observing the situation from a distance, saw the barrel of a rifle through the bushes. “The agent fired at the barrel and began running toward the target. That’s when we heard the shots. Fortunately, the shooter never got a chance to fire at us directly.”
Law enforcement managed to arrest the suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, thanks to a witness who photographed the suspect’s vehicle. Trump commended the witness, a woman, for her quick actions. “She did an incredible job. She followed the suspect and took pictures of his truck, which led to finding his license plate. With that information, authorities were able to track him down on the highway.”
Trump, who was several hundred yards away from the shooting and unharmed, praised the Secret Service and local police for their swift response. “They did an outstanding job. The man is now behind bars, and hopefully, he will remain there for a long time. He was very dangerous,” Trump said.
Routh was charged on Monday with federal gun crimes, including possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He was apprehended about 45 minutes after the incident on Interstate 95, following a high-speed chase. Routh was calm during his court appearance and answered “yes” to several questions posed by Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe of the Southern District of Florida.
A detention hearing is scheduled for September 23, and further arraignment is set for September 30. Authorities recovered a loaded rifle, a digital camera, a backpack, and food from the scene. Routh had reportedly spent nearly 12 hours in the area around the golf course before the incident.
This marks the second time in recent months that Trump has faced a direct threat, following a previous assassination attempt during a July rally in Pennsylvania.