President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he is “relieved” that former President Donald Trump was unharmed following a suspected assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee on Sept. 15.
His remarks came after the FBI said that Trump had been the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in Florida earlier that day. It’s the second alleged attempt on the life of the former president after a bullet grazed his ear at a Pennsylvania rally two months ago.
“I am relieved that the former President is unharmed,” Biden stated. “There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened.”
Biden said “there is no place for political violence” in the country and said the government will ensure that the Secret Service has “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.”
“I am glad [Trump] is safe. Violence has no place in America,” the Democratic presidential candidate stated.
Trump sent out an emailed statement confirming that he was “safe and well” more than an hour after his campaign released a brief statement on the incident.
“There were gunshots 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, with some words in all caps. “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender! I will always love you for supporting me.”
A suspect connected to the incident has been taken into custody, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the suspected gunman.
A representative of the U.S. Secret Service told reporters that Secret Service personnel opened fire on a suspected gunman “located near the property line” of the Trump International Golf Course, adding that the case was being investigated.
Photos shared by law enforcement on Sept. 15 showed what appeared to be two black bags hanging from a fence near the golf course. A firearm was between them with its barrel pointed through a gap in the fence, and a GoPro camera hanging to the side.
The incident comes just two months after a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump as he was speaking at a Pennsylvania rally, with one bullet striking him in the ear. One rallygoer was killed and two others were injured.
