Trump Safe After Latest Assassination Attempt
Plus, Venezuela accuses the CIA of a coup, and a reality check on how Harris and Trump say they will lower grocery prices.
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📌FBI INVESTIGATES ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION AT TRUMP’S PALM BEACH GOLF COURSE
The FBI says former President Trump was the target of what appears to be an attempted assassination at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday — just nine weeks after he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
SECOND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Trump was golfing at his Trump international Golf Club Sunday when Secret Service agents saw the muzzle of the suspect’s AK-47 pointing through a chain link fence one hole ahead of where the former President was playing. U.S. Secret Service agents then opened fire toward the suspected shooter. No injuries were reported. The suspect fled in an SUV and was later arrested by local law enforcement.
Secret Service say the suspect is 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh.
The gunman had two backpacks hanging on a fence and a GoPro camera–which he allegedly was going to use to shoot video of whatever he was attempting to do.
Routh dropped his AK-47 and fled in an SUV when he encountered Secret Service shots. It is not clear that Routh ever fired his gun.
The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he played, and agents were a few holes ahead of him when they noticed the person with the firearm
WHO’S RYAN WESLEY ROUTH?
Criminal history: Routh has a criminal history going back a couple decades. He was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records. Details are unclear. He also was in an armed standoff with police in NC that same year.
We’re also still learning about his political leanings from his social media. They appear to be all over the map.
He supported Trump in 2016.
He became a Tulsi Gabbard supporter in 2019
In 2020, he supported Bernie Sanders, and then wanted Biden to beat Trump in 2020.
In 2024, he wanted a Vivek-Nikki ticket
He’s also posted a number of COVID conspiracy theories, and was a big supporter of Ukraine, even volunteering to help them fight Russia.
Routh’s son says his dad hated Trump, but finds it surprising that he would attempt to kill the former president.
REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES
TRUMP SAYS: In an email to supporters after the shooting, Trump said: “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!” the email said. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS: The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were both briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House said its “relieved” Trump is safe. Harris said she was “glad” Trump was safe, adding that “violence has no place in America.”
The latest incident will lead to new questions about how a would-be assassin was still able to get that close to Trump. Members of Congress are demanding a briefing from the US Secret Service and FBI.
Former Secret Service Director John Magaw says it looked like the Secret Service was following protocol Sunday on the golf course, especially for someone like Trump who is a presidential candidate not entitled to the full complement of protection he was given when he was president.
REALITY CHECK: WHAT CANDIDATES CAN AND CAN’T DO ABOUT GROCERY PRICES
Regardless of your political party, almost everyone thinks grocery prices are too high. And they want the next president to fix it. Economists gave Politico a reality check on the policies each is proposing — and whether they have the power to lessen the pressure on consumers.
KAMALA HARRIS
Price controls on groceries: Harris called on Congress to pass a food price gouging ban, which would penalize companies that use their leverage to sell goods at an excessive price. It would let the federal government define what constitutes as “excessive.”
Economists say: Her price control plan is unnecessary, ineffective, and to some, resembles communism. Democrats, in private, say it has no chance of passing.
Countering big meat: There are four companies that control the vast majority of beef and pork production, which Biden & Harris believe allows major meatpackers to hike consumer prices.
Economists say: Big meat isn’t the only factor contributing to higher prices, so it’s not going to do enough as a standalone policy. Any action also wouldn’t offer consumers immediate relief from high prices.
Getting aggressive: Try and pressure corporations to lower prices for food and other goods and stop ‘anticompetitive behavior’
Economists say: A president can’t singlehandedly force companies to cut prices or keep them there. The administration can also use lawsuits to break up grocery chains and other food corporations, as well as prevent mergers, but that would take years.
DONALD TRUMP
Expanding domestic energy supply: Trump says his plan to lower grocery prices is “drill, baby drill.” Energy costs are one driver of food inflation because fuel is one of the largest production costs for the agriculture sector. Trump promised “low taxes, low regulations, low energy costs, low interest rates” which he argued would “bring down the price of everything from electricity rates to groceries, airfares, and housing costs.”
Economists say: The government’s ability to influence global energy prices is limited. Geopolitical factors (like the Ukraine war & Middle East tensions) have one of the strongest impacts.
⛽️ AND THEN THERE’S THIS: The United States in 2024 already produces more crude oil than any country, ever.
📌 VENEZUELA ARRESTS U.S. & EU CITIZENS OVER ALLEGED CIA PLOT TO ASSASSINATE MADURO
A U.S. Navy SEAL has been detained in Venezuela, along with two other American citizens, two Spaniards, and a Czech citizen. They are accused, without evidence, of trying to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and overthrow the Venezuelan government, which has been in crisis since its disputed elections earlier this year.
REWIND TO JULY: VENEZUELA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The international dispute over Venezuela’s recent presidential election is critical to this story.
Catch up quick: Maduro was declared the winner of July’s presidential election against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez by the country’s electoral authority - a body stacked with Maduro’s allies. The group said Maduro won with 52% of the vote, but did not provide any detailed breakdown of the results. The contested election sparked a wave of deadly protests that have erupted across the country. Hundreds of opposition activists were arrested.
The United States, along with multiple Latin American leaders, have refused to recognize Maduro as the winner, and says there is “overwhelming evidence” that the opposition candidate Gonzalez received the most votes.
Just days ago, the U.S. sanctioned a number of key officials involved in his fraudulent and illegitimate claims of victory, as well as the brutal crackdown on protests that followed.
Last week, Spain’s parliament recognized the opposition candidate as the winner.
NOW BACK TO THE ALLEGED CIA PLOT
The American service member was identified as Wilbert Joseph Castaneda Gomez, a member of the Navy. The U.S. State Department quickly rejected claims the CIA was involved in an alleged plot to kill the Venezuelan President.
MADURO’S GRIP ON POWER
Circa the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, the CIA was involved in several campaigns around the world to assassinate or launch coups against foreign leaders until President Gerald Ford signed an executive order ending that practice. Maduro and his allies have obviously been angered by the actions this week by the U.S. and Spain, and called on the Venezuelan government to suspend commercial and diplomatic relations with Spain. Maduro has ignored requests from several countries to provide tally sheets that prove he won.
Maduro took power in 2013 and has long claimed the U.S. is trying to overthrow him through covert operations. His administration has previously used imprisoned Americans as bargaining chips to get concessions.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Fact check: Harris campaign social media account has repeatedly deceived with misleading edits and captions to attack former President Trump (CNN)
📌 Miami-Dade Police officer at the center of Tyreek Hill traffic stop has been suspended several times, police records show (NY POST)
📌 Trump declares ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT’ on social media (CBS NEWS)
📌 USPS’ long-awaited new mail truck makes its debut (CAR AND DRIVER)
📌 Astronauts Stuck In Space Make First Public Comments After Ride Leaves Without Them (HUFF POST)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Putin's options for Ukraine missiles response include nuclear test, experts say (REUTERS)
📌 China is raising its retirement age, now among the youngest in the world’s major economies (AP)
📌 Multiple deaths reported in eastern Romania as torrential rainstorms flood homes, block roads (CBS)
📌 Over 200 inmates escape from prison following heavy flooding in Nigeria (CNN)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Disney and DirecTV reach deal, ending two-week blackout (VARIETY)
📌 Home Depot to pay $2 million settlement for overcharging customers (YAHOO! FINANCE)
📌 Puzzling fossil discovery could reveal why Neanderthals disappeared (CNN)
📌 Pfizer drug shows promise in cancer-related condition that causes weight loss and weakness (STAT)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 ‘Shogun,’ ‘Hacks’ and ‘The Bear’ win big at Emmy Awards (AP) Read: EMMY WINNERS LIST
📌 One former NFL QB predicts Tom Brady may return to football to play for Miami Dolphins (CBS SPORTS)
📌 A bar is the worst place to meet a potential mate, dating coaches say (CNBC)
📌 The White House is planning an event this week to mark the 25th anniversary of The West Wing (DEADLINE)
📌 How Does Patrick Mahomes Feel About Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola Copying His Style? See What the Chiefs’ QB Said About His Look-Alike (MSN)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: SEPTEMBER 16
1620: English colonists aboard the Mayflower set sail for America, where they founded Plymouth, Massachusetts, after 41 men signed the Mayflower Compact.
1908: General Motors was founded in Flint, Michigan, by William C. Durant.
1940: Samuel T. Rayburn of Texas was first elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; he would serve as speaker for a record 17 years.
1993: 'Frasier' starring Kelsey Grammer premiered on NBC.