Donald Trump cheated death for a second time after surviving another suspected assassination attempt just two months after he was shot in the ear. 

The terrifying threat to the former president was flagged by a Secret Service agent who noticed something out of the ordinary sticking out of the chain-link fence surrounding the golf course.

Danger was confirmed when they abruptly realized it was a rifle barrel with a scope. 

The alleged gunman has been identified as registered Democrat Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was found unarmed, while a backpack, GoPro camera and AK-47 style rifle that he left behind was located at the scene. He is now in custody.

Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters at a press conference that the Secret Service had a ‘limited’ ability to protect Trump at the golf course.

‘The golf course is surrounded by shrubbery, so when somebody gets into the shrubbery, they’re pretty much out of sight, all right, and at this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president,’ Bradshaw said. 

The alleged gunman has been identified as registered Democrat Ryan Wesley Routh , 58, who was found unarmed, while a backpack, GoPro camera and AK-47 style rifle that he left behind was located at the scene. He is now in custody

Sunday, September 15, 1.30pm

Around 1.30pm Sunday the West Palm Beach Police Department was notified of shots fired by the Secret Service after spotting the shooter in the bushes at Trump International Golf Club in Mar-a-Lago, West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. 

At the time, the shooter was about 300-500 yards from the Republican presidential candidate who was playing golf between holes five and six.

The agent who spotted the rifle, Bradshaw said, is part of a team that stays a hole or two ahead of Trump on the course. 

A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel with a scope sticking out through a  fence on the golf course and ‘immediately engaged’ with the shooter, according to Bradshaw. 

The former president was rushed to safety while Routh fled the scene. 

Danger was confirmed when it was realized a rifle barrel with a scope sticking out a chain-link fence on the golf course. (pictured: Law enforcement personnel investigate the area around Trump International Golf Club) 

At the time, the shooter was about 300-500 yards from the Republican presidential candidate who was playing golf between holes five and six

 1:40pm-2.00pm 

The 45th President’s campaign communications director Steven Cheug said: ‘President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.’

Trump soon issued a defiant statement promising to ‘never surrender.’

‘There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I am safe and well,’ he wrote in an alert sent out by his team.

‘Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!’ the candidate continued, months after surviving a separate attempt on his life that saw him shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

‘I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again. 

‘May God bless you,’ he wrote. 

The agent who spotted the rifle, Palm Beach County Sherriff Ric Bradshaw said, is part of a team that stays a hole or two ahead of Trump on the course

 3.49pm

Vice President Kamal Harris broke her silence on the alleged assassination attempt and said she was relieved no-one was hurt. 

‘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,’ she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

‘Violence has no place in America.’

The White House also issued a statement and said that both President Joe Biden and Harris were informed bout the security incident. 

‘The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing,’ according to the White House.

‘They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team.’

Routh showed little emotion and remained calm when he was taken into custody. (pictured: The suspect on his knees after cops located him) 

4.29pm- 4.32pm 

Routh showed little emotion and remained calm when he was taken into custody. 

Martin County Sheriff William Synder said: ‘He never asked, “what is this about?” Obviously, law enforcement with long rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it.’ 

Daniel Rodriguez, who was driving back from Orlando with his family from a soccer match on I-95  told CNN he witnessed the ‘wild scene’ when sheriff’s deputies pulled Routh over. 

‘We saw multiple officers starting to speed up behind us,’ Rodriguez said. 

‘We saw a black Nissan speed up and merge in and out of traffic. We saw a helicopter flying in the air and many more police starting to appear. Then, a state trooper pulled over and stopped the traffic lane.’ 

4.42pm 

The FBI announced that agents were investigating ‘what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.’ 

4.43pm 

Trump arrived back to his home in Mar-a-Lago, according to a source familiar with the incident. 

5.17pm-5.18pm

Bradshaw said that Trump’s golf course is surrounded by shrubbery, making it hard to see people hidden within. 

He added that the gunman had an AK-style rifle with a scope, a GoPro camera and two backpacks hanging from a fence. 

The backpacks had ceramic tile inside and the suspect’s belongings are being processed, Bradshaw added. 

The Secret Service agent who saw Routh fired four-six rounds before he fled the scene. 

Images of Routh’s vehicle were given to law enforcement by a witness. 

The gunman had an AK-style rifle with a scope, a GoPro camera and two backpacks hanging from a fence. The backpacks has ceramic tile inside and the suspect’s belongings are being processed

5.24pm

Dave Aronberg, a state arrorney for Palm Beach County, said prosecutors were working on a warrant and pretrial detention applications.

‘Our filing of the warrant and charges at the state level does not preclude the federal charges that could be coming.

‘But in the meantime, it looks like the warrants and a pretrial detention motion will happen first,’ Aronberg said. 

5.30pm

Trump’s running mate JD Vance said the former president was in ‘good spirits’ following the incident. 

‘I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.  

‘Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,’ Vance wrote. 

Secret Service and Homeland Security agents check a former home of Routh

Law enforcement officers work after reports of shots fired outside Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach Sunday 

5.40pm

Bradshaw announced that law enforcement would have lined the golf course during the suspect attempt if Trump was the sitting president. 

Because he is not, ‘security is limited to the areas that the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.’ 

‘I would imagine that the next time he comes to the golf course, there will probably be a little more people around the perimeter. 

‘But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done, they provided exactly what the protection should have been and their agent did a fantastic job,’ Bradshaw said. 

6.03pm 

Routh was identified as the man who allegedly tried to take Trump’s life, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. 

6.18pm 

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz said on X that he is glad Trump is ‘safe.’

‘Gwen and I are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe. Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation.’

Wesley’s son, Oran Routh, reached by DailyMail.com said his father, pictured, is not a violent person and was not aware of him owning a gun

6.33pm 

Congresswoman Elise Stefink also issued a statement following the attack. 

‘I am grateful to hear that President Trump is safe following today’s reported assassination attempt in Florida. 

‘I join in thanks for out hardworking law enforcement officers working to keep President Trump, his family, and his team safe,’ Stefink wrote. 

She then questioned ‘how an assassin was allowed to get this close to President Trump again.’ 

Stefink also referred to the July assassination attempt and said: ‘There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida.’ 

‘As Americans we must unite behind him in November to protect our republic and bring peace back to the world.’ 

7.24pm  

Trump campaign leaders credited the Secret Service for swiftly protecting Trump Sunday. 

Senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote in an email to staff: ‘Today, for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.

‘Thankfully, no one was injured at the Golf Course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,’ they said. 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the state ‘will be conducting its own investigation’ into the assassination attempt. (pictured: Law enforcement officers work to investigate after shots were fired) 

8.31pm

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the state ‘will be conducting its own investigation’ into the assassination attempt. 

‘The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club. 

‘The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,’ DeSantis said on X. 

8.50pm 

President Joe Biden said he was briefed on the shooting and ‘there is no place for violence’ in the US. 

‘I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. 

‘A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump is ‘unstoppable’ after spending time with him after the incident

Donald Trump is seen raising his fist in the air as blood streams down his face after being shot in the ear on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania 

‘I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened.

‘As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that the Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,’ Biden said. 

9.04pm 

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump is ‘unstoppable’ after spending time with him after the incident. 

Though he was not on the course with the former president during the time, Johnson had a meeting scheduled with him at Mar-a-Lago afterward. 

‘Kelly and I are departing Mar-a-Lago, where we just spent a few hours with President Trump and are thanking God for protecting him today—once again.

‘No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable,’ Johnson wrote.