Donald Trump says only ‘consequential presidents’ face assassination attempts after second attack

After surviving two assassination plots, Trump highlights the dangers of presidency and calls for enhanced safety.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a crowd at a town hall in Flint, Michigan, following the second assassination attempt against him in the past two months.

Donald Trump, who is running for a second term as the Republican nominee, attributed these threats to the "consequential" nature of his presidency.

He remarked, "Only consequential presidents get shot at," underscoring the dangers of running for high office.

The most recent assassination attempt occurred at Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, where secret service agents arrested Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old armed with an AK-47.

According to reports, Ryan Routh had positioned himself in bushes near the golf course, possibly planning to shoot Donald Trump.

The former president praised the secret service's swift response, noting that the incident could have ended much worse.

He also commended the actions of a woman who followed Ryan as he fled the scene, taking down his license plate number, which helped authorities track him down.

“See, women are smarter than men,” Trump joked, adding that he would like to meet the vigilant woman.

The former president, however, did raise concerns about the ongoing shortage of security personnel.

"The secret service does a great job," Donald Trump said, "but they’ve been complaining about needing more people for a long time.”

He revealed that his campaign has repeatedly requested additional secret service agents at events, especially after the first attempt on his life.

In an earlier incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, he said a lack of proper security at one of his rallies could have had devastating consequences.

"Somebody should have been in that building," he remarked about the Butler event.

Ryan Routh has since been charged with federal gun crimes.

Trump described his setup as "sophisticated," and noted that the attempt was well-organised.

The arrest of Ryan came just weeks after another assassination plot was foiled, making this the second such attempt on Donald Trump’s life in recent months.

Despite these threats, he used the incident to highlight the challenges and dangers of running for president. “It’s a dangerous business,” he said.

“They think race car driving is dangerous, or bull riding is scary. No, this is a dangerous business, and we have to keep it safe.”

On a lighter note, he shared that he received a "very nice" phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris and had a "pleasant conversation" with President Joe Biden after the incident.

Despite political differences, both leaders extended their sympathies in the wake of the assassination attempt.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to the safety of presidential candidates.

Donald Trump’s call for stronger security measures comes as he continues his campaign for the 2024 presidential election.

In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump said he understands criticism directed at the Secret Service but believes they handled the situation well.

“In this case, it worked out very well,” Trump said, though he stopped short of criticising the agency for not securing the perimeter of the golf course ahead of time.

The event also served as a platform for Donald Trump to reiterate his tough stance on trade issues, particularly against Chinese automakers setting up factories in Mexico to bypass U.S. tariffs.

"They think they’re going to make their cars there, and we’re going to take them without charging taxes – no. I’m putting a 200% tariff on them, which means they’re unsellable in the United States," he declared.

He linked his strong policies with the threats against his life, joking, “And then you wonder why I get shot at, right?”

This isn’t the first time a U.S. president has faced such dangers.

Donald Trump joins a long list of American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, who have been targeted in assassination attempts.

Ronald Reagan, like Donald Trump, was attacked while on the campaign trail but survived his injuries. Former Presidents like Andrew Jackson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Gerald Ford also survived similar attempts on their lives.

Despite the personal risks, he continues to campaign and present his case for another term in office.

He concluded by expressing optimism that his campaign would receive the necessary security enhancements moving forward, especially given the recent attempts on his life.

“We’ve long requested more people, and I think we’re getting it now. Somebody told me they’ll be providing more people now,” he said, assuring his supporters that safety remains a top priority.

The incident, however, underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by political figures in the U.S., particularly amid a highly charged political climate.

Donald Trump, who remains one of the most polarising figures in American politics, is pressing forward with his campaign, despite the risks.