'Glad he's safe...': Kamala on Trump's apparent assassination attempt
United States Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed relief over the safety of former President Donald Trump following a shooting incident near his property in Florida. "I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe," she said. The Democratic Party's presidential candidate also emphasized that "violence has no place in America."
Details of the shooting incident near Trump's property
The shooting incident occurred on the grounds of Trump's golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, where an AK-47-style rifle was reportedly used. The Republican Party campaign confirmed that Trump is "safe" following the event. The US Secret Service, tasked with protecting current and former presidents, was accompanying Trump at the time as per protocol. The motive behind this shooting remains unclear at this point.
Recent assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania
This shooting comes nearly two months after a failed assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. In that incident, a shooter positioned on a roof fired a 5.56mm bullet from an AR-15 style rifle, grazing Trump's ear and causing blood to splatter on his face. The US Secret Service acknowledged its failure to protect the former president at an election rally on July 13.
Read: Harris's statement here
Secret Service under scruttiny
Following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Acting Director of the US Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, admitted that the agency had failed in its mission. "The sole responsibility of our agency is to make sure our protectees are never put in danger. We fell short of that in Butler," he said. Rowe also assured that measures were being taken to prevent such a failure from happening again.
Upcoming presidential elections and recent debate
The shooting incident in Florida comes amid a heated political climate, with Trump and Harris set to face off in the closely contested presidential elections scheduled for November this year. It also follows the first Presidential debate between the rival candidates, where a majority of debate watchers believed Harris outperformed Trump. A CNN flash poll released shortly after the debate showed that 54% of those surveyed said Harris won while 31% said Trump was the victor.
