Trump blames Biden and Harris ‘rhetoric’ for assassination bids

WEST PALM BEACH, United States: Donald Trump on Monday blamed his election rival Kamala Harris and US President Joe Biden after he was targeted in a second apparent assassination attempt, saying their “rhetoric” about him endangering democracy is to blame.

Both Biden and Harris have denounced the apparent assassination bid. The suspect, identified by police as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested soon after being spotted while hiding with an assault-style rifle at the edge of Trump´s golf course in West Palm Beach. US Secret Service agents opened fire, not hitting him, and he fled before surrendering without a struggle.

On Monday, Routh appeared in court where he was informed he was being charged with illegal firearms possession. He appeared calm and did not speak, other than to say “yes” a few times to questions from the judge.

The FBI announced that it is also probing “what appears to be an attempted assassination.” Trump -- who was not hurt in Sunday´s event -- told Fox News Digital that rhetoric from Biden and Harris “is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country.”

Trump, 78, referred to frequent comments that he poses a “threat to democracy.” Biden and Harris have described Trump as a danger over his refusal to concede defeat to Biden in 2020 and his campaign to classify the mob of his supporters that stormed Congress in 2021 as political dissidents.