House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) shared a moment of solidarity with former President Donald Trump following the apparent assassination attempt at Trump’s Florida golf club on Sunday.
Johnson posted a photo to X, standing alongside Trump, both men smiling and giving a thumbs up. The Speaker’s post came after spending several hours with Trump at his nearby Mar-a-Lago resort, expressing gratitude for Trump’s safety: “We are thanking God for protecting him today—once again.”
Johnson’s message, which included images of him, his wife Kelly, and a picturesque Florida sunset, praised Trump’s resilience. “No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable,” Johnson wrote.
Earlier that day, Trump’s campaign reassured the public that he was safe after gunshots were fired near him at the Trump International Golf Club. The FBI confirmed it was investigating what appeared to be an assassination attempt. According to officials, Secret Service agents opened fire on a man who had pointed a rifle through a fence surrounding the course. The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended by local authorities.
Kelly and I are departing Mar-a-Lago, where we just spent a few hours with President Trump and are thanking God for protecting him today—once again. No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/43Rm8SPGU8
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) September 15, 2024
Trump, showing his usual defiance, addressed his supporters directly in the aftermath. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” he declared, vowing to remain steadfast in his pursuit of another term in the White House. “Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again,” he added.
This latest incident marks the second time in recent months that Trump has survived an attack. In July, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the right ear by a gunman while addressing a crowd. Despite being wounded, Trump raised his fist in a display of strength, but the event turned tragic when a rally attendee, 50-year-old fireman Corey Comperatore, was killed, and two others were injured. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was taken out by Secret Service snipers.
The Pennsylvania shooting led to intense scrutiny over security protocols, resulting in multiple investigations, including one led by a bipartisan task force in the House. Amid the fallout, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned due to mounting criticism of the security lapses.
Both Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) expressed confidence in the House task force’s ability to “find the facts, ensure accountability, and help make certain such failures never happen again.”
