Former President Donald Trump narrowly survived yet another assassination attempt after a sniper with a scoped AK-47 rifle got within a few hundred yards of him as he played golf at his West Palm Beach, Florida club on Sunday.
It is the second time a madman armed with an assault rifle has tried to kill the 45th president in two months.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the suspect took cover near a chain-link fence between 300 and 500 yards from Trump around 2 p.m. — noting that “with a rifle and scope, like, that is not a long distance.”
Law-enforcement sources told The Post that the suspect is Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old Hawaii resident who has championed progressive causes online and was a reliable donor to Democratic causes and candidates.
His LinkedIn page shows that he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University but relocated to Hawaii sometime around 2018.
He describes himself on the page as “mechanically minded” and claims, “Work has never been about money rather building frameworks for people to thrive and succeed.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, somebody with Routh’s same full name and date of birth racked up more than a dozen cri*minal charges in 2001 and 2002, including for carrying a concealed weapon and hit and run.
He also picked up a particularly alarming felony in April 2002 for “possessing a weapon of mass destruction,” records show.
On Sunday, the accused wannabe assassin set up a GoPro camera on the fence with the apparent intent of recording the sho*oting — part of a full-fledged sniper’s nest he orchestrated in the hedges at the edge of the Trump International Golf Course, where he was lying in wait for Trump to come into view.
A Secret Service agent spotted the suspect as he stuck the barrel of his rifle through the chain fence on the outskirts of Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach South.
The agent, who was a golf hole ahead of Trump, opened fire on the suspect — who then fled the scene, Bradshaw told reporters Sunday night.
Authorities have yet to determine if the sh*ooter got off any sh*ots at the Secret Service agents or at Trump.
Despite the fact that the ex-president came within a few centimeters of having his head blown off barely two months ago, Bradshaw indicated Trump’s security detail was lighter than President Biden because he is not the sitting commander in chief.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” Bradshaw said.
“I would imagine that the next time he comes to a golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done,’’ the sheriff said.
After the first attempted assassination, the Secret Service increased Trump’s protective detail — and also offered protection to then-independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayokas said in July.
“I cannot discuss specifics of the protection or the enhancements made, as they involve sensitive tactics and procedures,” the DHS chief said at the time. “I can say, however, that personnel and other protective resources, technology, and capabilities have been added.”
Following the Butler, Pa. rally sho*oting, the Secret Service also demanded that Trump hold all future outdoor campaign events from behind bulletproof glass.
Routh’s arrest was given a big boost by a bystander who spotted him running out of the bushes and getting into a black Nissan, even photographing the man and reporting the sighting to law enforcement, who then blasted it out statewide, leading to his arrest after a stop on I-95 a short time later.
Investigators found the suspect had left behind his “AK-style” rifle, as well as two backpacks, one of which contained ceramic tile, at the scene, Bradshaw said.
Trump issued an “alert” statement to let supporters know he was safe shortly after the terrifying incident.
“There were gu*nshots 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 Sunday.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung added, “President Trump is safe following gu*nshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,”
The suspect was arrested by local police a short time later on I-95 at FL-714, about 41 miles north in Palm City.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) took to X minutes after news of the sh*ooting broke to laud the former president for his fortitude.
“Just spoke with President Trump. He is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. He’s in good spirits and he is more resolved than ever to save our country,’’ Graham said.
The West Palm Beach course is about five miles inland from Mar-a-Lago, which Trump has dubbed the “Winter White House.”
The Secret Service — which came under widespread criticism after the July assassination attempt on Trump — wrote on X that it was investigating a “protective incident” involving the former president.
The agency said it’s coordinating with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office on the investigation.
Initial reports suggested two people were firing at each other. But sources said investigators now believe the Secret Service agent was the only sh*ooter.
The suspect’s motives are not yet known. He was arrested by Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies.
The White House issued a statement soon after the 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. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,’’ the statement said.
