Second 'Assassination Attempt' Against Trump; Biden: Secret Service Needs More Help

Following the second attempt on Donald Trump's life in the past two months, U.S. President Joe Biden has called for 'more help' for the Secret Service. The Secret Service is an independent security agency responsible for protecting the lives of U.S. presidents. The FBI announced on Sunday, September 16, that it had thwarted an 'assassination attempt' against former President Trump, the Republican nominee in this year's elections, at one of his golf clubs in Florida, stating that Mr. Trump is safe and secure. The second assassination attempt, which occurred about nine weeks after a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, has raised questions and concerns about the security of one of the candidates just about 50 days before the contentious U.S. presidential election. The armed individual who shot near Donald Trump's golf club was arrested. The FBI and Florida state police are continuing their investigation into the assassination attempt, and the main question appears to be how someone aiming to shoot Donald Trump was able to bring an assault rifle and sniper scope within a few hundred meters of him. The FBI stated that it is leading the investigation into 'what appears to be an assassination attempt on the former president and its motivations.' On Monday, September 17, President Biden told reporters at the White House, 'Thank God the President (Trump) is safe. I must say clearly that the Secret Service needs more help, and I believe Congress should respond to this need. I think the Secret Service needs more personnel.' Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state would conduct 'its own independent investigation' into the incident and that 'the people need to know the truth about the assailant and how he got within five hundred meters of Mr. Trump.' Secret Service agents on Sunday morning, while Donald Trump was playing at the 'West Palm' golf course, spotted a rifle barrel resembling an AK-47 in the bushes near the golf course, approximately 400 meters from where Mr. Trump was located. Rick Bradshaw, the Palm Beach County Sheriff, told reporters that one of the Secret Service agents fired at the location where the rifle was spotted. The assailant abandoned the rifle and sniper scope and fled the scene in an SUV. Police were able to stop and arrest him in a nearby area of Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Sheriff added, 'The Secret Service agents performed their duties diligently.' After the incident, Mr. Trump praised the Secret Service and police on social media, describing them as 'brave and dedicated patriots.' Reports indicate that Mr. Trump spoke with his election ally J.D. Vance and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson after the incident.