Karoline Leavitt has vocally criticized the Democratic Party, accusing them of harboring animosity towards Donald Trump following a thwarted attack on his life early Sunday morning.
The incident involved a 21-year-old man named Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina. Martin breached the security perimeter of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, armed with a shotgun. The situation was swiftly contained by the Secret Service and a sheriff’s deputy, resulting in Martin’s death around 1:30 a.m. Notably, Trump was not present in Florida at the time, as he was at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Republicans have characterized the incident as a third assassination attempt on the former president. In the wake of the event, Leavitt pointed fingers at the Democrats, especially following their recent government shutdown, which she argues jeopardized the security of numerous federal law enforcement officers.
She expressed her concerns, stating, “In the middle of the night, while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted swiftly and effectively to neutralize an armed intruder at President Trump’s residence. Federal law enforcement officers are tirelessly working around the clock to ensure the safety of our nation and its citizens.”
She wrote: ‘In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.
‘Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans.
‘It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.’
Florida congressman Brian Mast told Fox News Sunday that he ‘absolutely’ believes what occurred during the night was a third assassination attempt on Trump.
Leavitt blamed the latest hit on Trump’s life on the Democrats, who shut down the government last week – jeopardizing thousands of federal law enforcement officers
A 21-year-old man, identified as Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina, broke through the perimeter of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence (pictured) armed with a shotgun
The would-be shooter had a shotgun and a gas can, pictured here
‘If somebody is coming to the president’s home with a firearm, with a gas can, with something incendiary or something explosive,’ Mast began.
‘You have to believe they have an intent to conduct an attack against the president of the United States of America, or his family, or his friends,’ the congressman concluded.
When the president was on his campaign trail in Butler, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2024, he was shot at while on stage. The shooter, Thomas Crooks, was killed.
Just two months later, Trump faced a second assassination attempt in Florida, while he was golfing at his club in West Palm Beach. Ryan Routh, the shooter, was jailed for life earlier this month for the ordeal.
This morning, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent made an appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures to discuss the economy – but begun his segment denouncing the Democrats’ ‘venom’ towards Trump.
He said: ‘Two would-be assassins dead, one in jail for life…this [is] venom coming from the other side.’
Martin, the third would-be assassin, unlawfully entered the secure perimeter at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in the early hours of Sunday.
He was armed with a shotgun and a fuel can. Two Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office ordered him to drop his weapons around 1.30am.
Police say Austin Tucker Martin (pictured), 21, is from North Carolina, and was reported missing a few days ago by his family
Martin tried to enter Trump’s Palm Beach residence near the north side around 1.30am on Sunday by following an exiting car
Two Secret Service agents and one deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office ordered him to drop his weapons before shooting him dead, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw (center) said
‘They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun. He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him,’ Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a press conference Sunday morning.
The suspect, who investigators say is from North Carolina and was reported missing by his family a few days ago, put down the gas can but raised his gun into shooting position, prompting police to fire.
‘At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene,’ Bradshaw said.
No Secret Service agents or Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies were injured.
Rafael Barros, the Special Agent in Charge at the Secret Service Miami field office, shared an image of the gas can and shotgun from the scene.
The deceased man’s identity has not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin, however a source familiar with the matter identified him as Martin to the Associated Press. He is said to be in his early 20s.
Investigators believe Martin left North Carolina and headed south, picking up a shotgun along the way, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Associated Press.
The box for the gun was recovered in his vehicle, Guglielmi said. The man drove through the north gate of Mar-a-Lago as another vehicle was exiting and was confronted by Secret Service agents, the spokesman added.
Investigators believe Martin left North Carolina and headed south, picking up a shotgun along the way. The box for the gun was said to be found inside his car
Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh, 59, was sentenced to life behind bars after he tried to shoot the president at his Florida golf course during the 2024 election cycle
The FBI is leading the investigation into the case and is asking neighbors to check their security cameras for any footage of suspicious activity.
The assassination attempt comes just months after two National Guard soldiers were shot in the head just yards from Trump’s DC residence.
Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was identified as the alleged gunman in custody over the horror shoot-out at Farragut West metro station in the center of Washington, DC, in November.
Earlier this month, a maniac who tried to assassinate Trump at his Florida golf course at the height of the 2024 election campaign was sentenced to life behind bars.
Ryan Routh, 59, was sentenced on February 4 to life in prison, plus a consecutive 84 months for one of his gun convictions.
