Vice President Harris said Sunday that she had been briefed on reports of gunshots heard near former President Trump in Florida, and expressed relief that he was safe during the incident.
“We have received reports of a shooting near former President Trump and his property in Florida and are glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America,” Harris said. Written on Sunday An afternoon on social platform X.
The Democratic presidential candidate's comments came shortly after the Trump campaign assured the former president that he was safe after gunshots were reported near his home in Florida.
The exact details of the incident are unclear, but media reports said Secret Service agents opened fire on someone they perceived as a potential threat to the former president.
Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt in July, when the former president was shot in the ear and another man at the rally was also killed in the gunfire.
“President Trump is safe despite hearing gunfire nearby. Further details are unavailable at this time,” Trump administration spokesman Steven Chang said in a statement.
The incident occurred near the Trump International Golf Course in Palm Beach County, Florida, where President Trump was playing golf on Sunday.
The Trump campaign did not provide further information, but the White House later acknowledged the incident.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi I said it with X The department is working with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to investigate a “protection incident” involving Trump that occurred just before 2 p.m. Sunday. The sheriff's office confirmed that Trump is safe. A briefing is expected later Sunday afternoon.
The Hill has reached out to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the West Palm Police Department, the Secret Service and the Trump Organization for further comment.
The White House said in a statement that President Biden had also been briefed on the matter.
The White House said Harris and Biden were “relieved to know he is safe, and their teams will provide regular updates.”
The Trump campaign addressed the shooting in a fundraising email late Sunday, writing, “A warning from Trump: Gunshots heard near me, but before the rumors get out of control, I want you to hear this first: I am safe and well!”
“Nothing will stop me. I will never give in. I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again. God Bless,” the email said.
The recent assassination attempt raised concerns that the Secret Service may have been ill-equipped to protect the former president.
Fallout from the Secret Service's preparation for and response to the shooting led Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign in July after a disastrous appearance before Congress to investigate the incident.
