LOS ANGELES.–Almost nine weeks to the day, 78-year-old President Donald Trump barely survived an assassination attempt by 23-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks July 13 in Butler, Pa. Shockingly, history almost repeated itself today from West Palm Beach at Trump National Golf Club with another would be assassin poised to take another shot while Trump was on the fifth hole playing a morning round of golf. Arrested by Martin County Sheriffs in Palm City fleeing in a Nissan SUV without incident 45-miles north of Trump National, the would be shooter was identified as 58-year-old, Hawaii resident Ryan Wesley Routh, without too many details yet in terms of background. What’s known for sure is that Routh poked his scoped-AR-15 through the shrubs but never got off a single shot before the Secret Service fired four-to-six shots at him, prompting him to leave his two backpacks and GoPro camera at the scene.
Secret Serve did a far better job today of protecting Trump than they did July 13 in Butler, Pa., where they allowed Crooks to climb up on a roof of a nearby warehouse, and get off at least six shots, killing one and seriously injuring two bystanders in the crowd. Today, the shooter, some 400 to 500 yards from Trump on the golf course, got off no shots before Secret Service opened fire, driving him to his vehicle to flee the scene. Martin County Sheriff indicated that Routh was arrested without incident, not asking law enforcement why he was arrested. Unlike the Bulter, Pa. assassination attempt, FBI investigators will get their hands ton Routh to determine whether he acted alone or was a paid hit-man, a very real possibility. No one knows anything yet but local, state and federal authorities are busy at work trying to determine motive but also a wider conspiracy.
U.S. media has been in a virtual feeding frenzy since the Sept. 10 ABC News debate in Philadelphia where two anti-Trump moderators and 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris ganged up on Trump during the debate. Whatever the mood in the country, it’s been at a fever’s pitch since Trump and Kamala went after each other. Whether the latest assassination attempt had anything to do with today’s incendiary atmosphere is anyone’s guess. What’s known at the moment is that Trump’s would be assassin traveled from Hawaii and methodically plotted to take as shot at 2024 GOP nominee. It’s unknown yet whether he traveled with his AR-15 from Hawaii or purchased the rifle in the U.S. Judging by certain posts uncovered over the last few years on Twitter, it shows that Routh could have some screws loose, once propositioning Tesla Motors, Twitter and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to buy a used rocket to target Putin’s alleged Black Sea resort.
Whatever information comes out about Routh, it’s clear that he spent plenty of time, like Thomas Matthew Crooks, planning to assassinate Trump. If he was put up to assassinate Trump by any particular group, it’s not known yet or at least hasn’t been reported as a possible motive. Capturing Routh without incident on I-95 attempting to flee the scene gives a very different feel than the July 13 assassination attempt where Crooks was killed by a Secret Service Sniper. Whatever rounds were fired at Routh by the Secret Service today, they missed their mark, giving FBI profilers a field day to figure out whether Routh acted alone or was part conspiracy to assassinate Trump. Trump was defiant when he was whisked away to safety after the incident. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRNDER!” Trump said, reassuring supporters, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
Local, State and federal law enforcement have their work cut out interviewing Routh to find out whether he acted alone or was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Trump. FBI officials could not come up with a motive for Crook’s July 13 assassination attempt, though it’s clear Democrats had been demonizing Trump as “destroying democracy” for months. With all the vitriolic rhetoric, there’s no question that Crooks motive was probably some sick fantasy of saving American democracy. When it comes to Ruth, the FBI has a golden opportunity to do a thorough interrogation to find out his true motive. Judging by already know postings on Social Networks, it clear that Routh has a problem with reality asking Elon Musk to buy a used rocket to target Russian President Vladimir Putin. If any of that is remotely true, it leans in the direction of another psychotic lone-wolf.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
