The suspect was recognized in a number of media experiences as Routh, 58, although authorities haven’t but confirmed his id. Routh was a staunch supporter of Ukraine and had travelled there after Russia’s 2022 invasion, searching for to recruit overseas fighters.
Profiles on X, Fb and LinkedIn with Routh’s identify contained messages of help for Ukraine in addition to statements describing Trump as a menace to US democracy.
“@POTUS Your marketing campaign needs to be known as one thing like KADAF. Maintain America democratic and free. Trumps needs to be MASA … make Individuals slaves once more grasp. DEMOCRACY is on the poll and we can not lose,” learn a publish on X, tagging Biden.
Reuters was not capable of verify that the accounts belonged to the suspect, and regulation enforcement companies declined to remark. Public entry to the Fb and X profiles was eliminated hours after Sunday’s incident.
Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris and different Democrats have forged Trump as a hazard to US democracy, citing his effort to overturn his defeat within the 2020 election. Harris has promised unwavering help for Ukraine if elected.
Trump has expressed scepticism concerning the quantity of support the US has supplied Ukraine and has vowed to finish the conflict instantly if elected. He informed Reuters final 12 months that Ukraine may need to cede some territory to realize peace.
Trump blamed Biden and Harris for the assassination try, citing their “rhetoric” and claiming the suspected gunman was performing on Democrats’ “extremely inflammatory language”.
“Their rhetoric is inflicting me to be shot at, when I’m the one who’s going to avoid wasting the nation, and they’re those which might be destroying the nation – each from the inside and outside,” he stated, in line with Fox.