Leavitt Claims Democrats Jeopardize Trump’s Safety Amid Third Shooting Incident

Karoline Leavitt is vocally criticizing the Democratic Party following an alarming incident at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate early Sunday morning. The incident involved a 21-year-old North Carolina man, Austin Tucker Martin, who breached the estate’s security carrying a shotgun. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the sheriff’s office fatally intervened around 1:30 a.m. Fortunately, Trump was not in Florida at the time, as he was staying overnight at the White House in Washington, D.C. Republican voices have characterized this as the third assassination attempt on the former president, with Leavitt pointing fingers at the Democrats for the recent government shutdown, which she claims has put federal law enforcement officers at risk.

Leavitt expressed her concerns, stating, “In the dead of night, while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted swiftly and effectively to confront a deranged individual armed with a gun and a gas canister, who unlawfully entered President Trump’s residence. Federal law enforcement is tirelessly working around the clock to ensure the safety of our nation and its citizens. It’s both irresponsible and reckless that the Democrats have opted to shut down their department.” Florida Congressman Brian Mast shared his perspective with Fox News, agreeing that the incident could indeed be considered an assassination attempt. “If someone approaches the president’s home armed with a firearm and incendiary devices, it’s reasonable to suspect an intent to attack the President of the United States, his family, or associates,” Mast stated.

This recent event adds to a troubling pattern. During a summer 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was targeted by gunfire while on stage. The assailant, Thomas Crooks, was killed during the incident. Just two months later, Trump encountered another attempt on his life in West Palm Beach, Florida, while golfing. The shooter, Ryan Routh, was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, appearing on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures to discuss economic matters, took the opportunity to criticize what he described as the Democrats’ “hostility” towards Trump. “Two would-be assassins dead, one in jail for life… this is venom from the other side,” Bessent remarked. In the latest incident, Martin breached Mar-a-Lago’s secure perimeter in the early hours of Sunday, marking yet another security challenge.

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. ‘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. 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.