Florida politicians, organizations react after Trump's apparent assassination attempt in West Palm Beach

MIAMI — Florida politicians from both parties are speaking out after an incident Sunday that the FBI described as an apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The Secret Service said agents opened fire at a man who was pointing a high-powered rifle at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, where Trump was golfing Sunday afternoon. The suspect has been taken into custody.

Trump is safe and was not harmed during the incident.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect fled, but witnesses got his license plate number and he was pulled over and detained in Martin County, near Palm City, about 45 miles north of the golf course.

The FBI said the incident "appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump." Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said an AK-47-style rifle with a scope was found at the scene along the golf course fence, along with a backpack and GoPro camera. 

"President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Florida Republicans and Democrats shared their reactions to the incident, saying that they're relieved that Trump is safe.

Republican Party

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared on X that the state will conduct its own investigation into the assassination attempt, saying "people deserve the truth" about the incident.

Senator Rick Scott shared on X that he and his wife Ann were "grateful" for the law enforcement agencies that responded to the incident.

"Thank God that President [Donald Trump] is safe," he stated.

The Republican Party of Florida asked for prayers for Trump as the investigation continues.

"This madness has to stop!" the organization shared on X.

Florida GOP Chair Evan Power reposted the party's comments.

Democratic Party

U.S. Senate candidate and former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said there is "no place" for violence of any kind when the report came out Sunday.  

"Gun violence, and political violence, have no place in our society," she said.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava shared the same sentiment as Mucarsel-Powell, saying that she was "horrified" to learn that the former president was the victim of an attempted attack.

"Violence of this kind goes against everything we stand for as Americans," she said on X.

The Democratic Party of Florida continued with this sentiment and shared Vice President Kamala Harris' statement on the incident, saying America's "political leaders must not be targets of violence."

"We are relieved the former president is unharmed following a potential assassination attempt in Palm Beach County earlier [Sunday]," the party shared on X.

In:
• Shooting
• South Florida
• Democratic Party
• Donald Trump
• Republican Party
• Florida