Former U.S. President Donald Trump has shared his reaction to the second assassination attempt on his life, as well as what President Joe Biden told him in the aftermath. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was detained on Sunday, September 15, in connection with the alleged attempt on Trump in Florida.
Reflecting on the incident, Trump remarked that he believed it was part of a divine plan. “Perhaps it’s God wanting me to be president to save this country,” he said during a conversation on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night.
Trump also revealed that President Joe Biden called him on Monday evening to check on his well-being. “He called up to make sure I was okay and asked if I had any suggestions,” Trump noted, adding that he mentioned the need for more protection due to the large crowds at his events. “We have 50, 60,000 people showing up, and other people don’t have that.”
The former president reiterated his belief that the “radical left” was behind both the recent attempt and an earlier one at a rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. “A lot of people think that when the Democrats talk about a threat to democracy, it seems both of these people were radical leftists,” he said.
Trump gave more details about the assassination attempt while he was golfing at his West Palm Beach course. “It was quite something, but it worked out well,” he said, praising the Secret Service for their swift response. He recounted that while on the fifth hole, shots were fired, and a Secret Service agent immediately recognized the danger and responded by shooting at the suspect’s weapon. “The other one never got a shot off,” Trump said.
The former president described the scene as initially peaceful, joking that he would have liked to finish his putt before being rushed to safety in a golf cart. He commended law enforcement for their quick and effective handling of the situation.