Prior to this incident, people close to the former president have privately expressed concern about his safety while he is on the golf course. Although his country clubs in Florida and New Jersey are not open to the public, some of the boundaries of his courses are visible from the perimeter.
A suspect was apprehended shortly after he crossed the Palm Beach County line on Interstate 95, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. In a post on social media, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said deputies stopped a vehicle believed to be connected with the shooting incident after being alerted by Palm Beach County authorities.
Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity told viewers on that network that he spoke with Trump after the incident, and the former president told him he was on the fifth hole of the golf course. Trump was golfing with Steve Witkoff, a donor and friend of the former president.
“They heard, ‘Pop-pop, pop-pop,’” Hannity said. “Within seconds, the Secret Service pounced on the president, covered him. You had snipers with tripods — they knew the direction the shots had been fired, and they had eyes on the location the shots had been fired.”
Secret service agents “whisked the president away” in an armored vehicle, Hannity said.
Hannity said Trump confirmed that an AK-47 was found, and one individual got into a car after dropping the firearm. The former president was then taken to the clubhouse, according to Hannity, followed by all the others who were on the golf course with him.