Violence Has No Place: Kamala Harris After Shots Fired In Trump's Vicinity

Donald Trump was golfing at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when shots were fired nearby on September 15. The Republican Party presidential nominee was unharmed in the incident. Moreover, a nearby witness captured a photo of the vehicle and alerted authorities, which led to the arrest. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was subsequently taken into custody, as confirmed by three senior law enforcement officials.

Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign communications director, confirmed, "President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time." Trump himself reassured supporters with a statement saying, "I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again."

What Kamala Harris Said After Shots Fired In Donald Trump's Vicinity

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both responded to the incident. Harris condemned the violence, stating, "Violence has no place in America." She added, “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.” 

I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024

The White House confirmed that both Biden and Harris had been updated on the situation. According to a statement from the White House, "The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team."

US Secret Service's Statement On The Incident

The US Secret Service, responsible for protecting current and former presidents, was on-site during the incident. This follows a recent criticism of their performance during a July event in Pennsylvania, where a failed assassination attempt occurred.

The Secret Service admitted to failing in their duty to protect Trump, with Acting Director Ronald Rowe stating, "The Secret Service takes full responsibility for the tragic events of July 13th. This was a mission failure. The sole responsibility of our agency is to make sure our protectees are never put in danger. We fell short of that in Butler. And I'm working to make sure that this failure does not happen again."

This incident comes shortly after the first presidential debate between Trump and Harris, where a CNN flash poll indicated that Harris was perceived as having outperformed Trump. According to YouGov, 54% of those surveyed felt Harris won the debate, while 31% believed Trump was the victor.