What do we know so far?

With less than 50 days to go until the November US presidential election, a second possible assassination attempt on Donald Trump has heightened uncertainty in the race for the White House and raised serious questions about the threats facing the former Republican president and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Here’s what we know so far — and what Sunday’s security incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, could mean for both candidates.

What did the investigation find?

The FBI said on Sunday that it is investigating “what appears to be[ed] is “an attempt to assassinate Trump after a Secret Service An agent saw a rifle protruding from a fence at Trump International Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Law enforcement officials found an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks and a GoPro camera in the foliage around the golf course, and later arrested a suspect, named by US media as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii.

Trump was unharmed in the incident. But it has put the former president’s security under scrutiny just two months later. the assassin almost killed him at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the federal investigation into what happened in the latest incident, but Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has announced that the state will also conduct its own investigation.

Routh made his first court appearance in the Southern District of Florida on Monday morning and was charged by federal prosecutors with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession and receipt of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

Did the Secret Service fail to protect Trump?

The U.S. Secret Service, the federal law enforcement agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents and other top political leaders, came under scrutiny earlier this year after the Butler shooter’s bullet narrowly missed its target. Mr. Trumpskull of.

The agency’s director, Kimberly Cheatle, eventually resigned, taking responsibility for failing to prevent the attack — the first assassination attempt on a sitting or former US president in decades.

Now, the Secret Service will once again face tough questions about how a potential shooter could have gotten so close to the former president. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters on Sunday that the suspect could have been within 300 to 500 yards, or about 275 to 450 meters, of Trump.

“This agency needs more help,” US President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday morning. “I think Congress should meet their needs,” he added, suggesting that lawmakers should allocate more funding to help security agencies increase their resources.

In a post on his Truth Social platform late Sunday, Trump praised the Secret Service, saying: “GREAT JOB DONE.”

Who is responsible for this incident?

Law enforcement officials have not speculated on the suspect’s motive. But in an interview with Fox News Digital on Monday morning, Trump was quick to blame his political opponents, saying the “rhetoric” of Biden and Harris had fueled the violence against him.

“He believed the words of Biden and Harris, and he acted on them,” Trump said of the gunman on Sunday. “Their words got me shot, and I’m the one who’s going to save the country, and they’re the ones who are destroying the country — from the inside out.”

“They use extremely inflammatory language,” he added, referring to Democratic politicians. “I could use it too — much better than they do — but I don’t.”

Trump is no stranger to personal attacks on political opponents, entire ethnic groups and even influential individuals like musician Taylor Swift, who have publicly criticized him. He also played a role in inciting the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021, and many Democrats and even some Republicans blame him for fueling America’s toxic political climate.

Sunday wasn’t the first time Trump has blamed Democrats for the death threats against him. During last week’s presidential debate with Harris, Trump said, “I probably would have been shot in the head because of the things they said about me.”

But even in the case of the Pennsylvania shooter, there was no clear motive. He was killed on the spot by law enforcement but was a registered Republican at the time and had searched the internet for images and public appearances of Trump, Biden and other public figures before the shooting.

Trump still under threat?

Law enforcement officials were keen to reassure people on Sunday that there was no immediate threat to the former president or the general public. But Trump remains a target for both domestic and foreign actors.

Before the shooting in Butler, the Secret Service had increased security around the former president, after US officials received information about a specific threat from Iran.

Trump and former officials in his administration, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton, have faced an increased threat from Iran since the assassination of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.

There is no indication that the West Palm Beach incident was linked to Iran or any foreign power. But it will heighten concerns about the risks Trump and Harris face in the final stretch of the campaign.

What does this mean for the race for the White House?

Sunday’s incident gave Trump an immediate opportunity to reset his campaign’s messaging after a difficult stretch in which he struggled to recalibrate his campaign after Biden dropped out of the race.

The Republican nominee has been largely on the defensive since his poor performance against Harris in the only televised debate last Tuesday in Pennsylvania. He is also facing concerns from allies that he is straying from the party’s agenda by promoting conspiracy theories about immigrants and associating with far-right influencers.

After the apparent assassination attempt, Republicans rushed to his defense, painting Trump as a political hero willing to sacrifice his own safety for the greater good. His campaign also launched a new campaign shortly after the event. Fundraising drive.

There is no sign that the campaign will pause in the wake of this incident, although Democrats may have to dial back some of their attacks on Trump for a while.

In a statement late Sunday, Harris said she was “deeply troubled” by the events of earlier in the day and said “we must all do our part to ensure this incident does not lead to further violence.” She will continue her planned trip to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, when Trump is scheduled to travel to Michigan.

After it appeared that RouthThe alleged gunman, who has been active in trying to recruit foreign fighters to Ukraine in recent years, could further inflame the political debate surrounding the war with Russia. But for now, both campaigns are simply adjusting to the latest developments in the dramatic race for the White House.