Staff Reports
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his own golf club raises eyebrows and questions about the safety protocols in place for a former president. Probably it would bring a chuckle to some if it weren’t so serious—but here’s the reality. The deranged anti-Trump faction doesn’t seem to realize that their radical antics actually bolster Trump’s support. A potential sniper hiding in the shrubbery of Trump International Golf Club is a punchline waiting to happen, but it’s far from funny when one considers the gravity of this situation.
Chris Swecker, the former assistant director of the FBI, expressed bafflement over how the suspect Ryan Wesley Routh knew exactly when and where to ambush Trump. One theory? Routh might have been fed some juicy insider information, making this whole debacle seem even more sinister than a standard case of a kook with a vendetta. Of course, instead of the Secret Service being proactive, they had more people guarding a Christmas tree than Trump’s golf game. After all, it’s not like the former president is going to need a little extra security—oh wait, yes, he does.
Retired FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker questions if the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was given “𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” about President Trump’s whereabouts on Sunday afternoon.
“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞… pic.twitter.com/dYf9i7FBfL
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 16, 2024
At a press conference following the incident, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed that the would-be assassin had an excellent view from his hiding spot—between three and five hundred yards away. This situation feels all too reminiscent of the botched security details that have become hallmarks of the Trump era. If they can’t even keep a golf outing secure, what chance do they have at larger events? The recent attempts on Trump’s life shed an uncomfortable light on the failures of the Secret Service, which has been under intense scrutiny ever since Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots at Trump in Pennsylvania. Clearly, there seems to be a pattern developing here, and it’s not a good look.
Further complicating matters, the golf round on Sunday wasn’t exactly a public event. Unlike the typical large rally, which is publicized well in advance, this was more akin to a private outing. Questions swirl: Was there an inside source at the clubhouse who thought sharing Trump’s location would be a cute party trick? The implications are troubling. If someone in Trump’s orbit leaked that information, it’s a betrayal that would make Benedict Arnold blush.
The emotional toll these threats impose on the Trump family is significant. Donald Trump Jr. made it clear just how drained he feels having to explain to his kids why their grandfather is under constant threat. It’s a sad state of affairs for a family that should be enjoying the spoils of life, not navigating through a minefield of violent haters. These kind of conversations shouldn’t make their way into family dinner discussions, yet here we are.
The attacks and threats against Trump are symptomatic of a larger issue that splinters the nation’s political psyche. As America endures a prolonged period of vicious partisanship, the stakes only elevate. The scary part is, no one knows where this will all lead if these anti-Trump zealots continue down their path of chaos. It’s time for America to take a hard look at who really poses a danger and, spoiler alert, it’s not Trump supporters. What’s next? Are we going to pull out the old playbook of political violence from history books to address our current chaos? The future indeed looks grim.
