Former United States of America President, Donald Trump, has announced that he is safe and well after gunshots were reported in his vicinity as he played golf at his resort in Florida.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was “investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump”, in the incident the Secret Service said occurred before 2 pm local time on Sunday.
“I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” Trump said in a statement on his website.
“But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us,” the Republican presidential nominee added. “I will not stop fighting for you. I will never surrender.”
Trump had been golfing at his West Palm Beach course, not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence, during a day away from the presidential campaign, multiple media reports said.
At a joint news conference with the FBI, Secret Service and local officials, officials said that a Secret Service agent, who was one hole ahead of Trump on the golf course, spotted a person with a firearm and fired in his direction.
It was unclear if the suspect fired back at the agent, the officials added.
The Palm County sheriff said the suspect was 400 to 500 yards (365 to 457 metres) from Trump and it appeared he sought to film himself.
The suspect fled the wooded area in a black vehicle, but was quickly located and detained by law enforcement agencies, officials added.
A backpack, GoPro camera, firearm scope and AK-47-style rifle were recovered from the scene, the officials said.
The White House said that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation.
