Trump Survives Shooting Attempt, Joe Biden Orders Former President's Protection To Be Improved

President Joe Biden. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House)

JAKARTA - President Joe Biden ordered Secret Service to increase protection against the former president, after Donald Trump survived an alleged attempted shooting while playing golf on Sunday.

"I have been briefed by my team on what is being investigated by federal law enforcement as a possible attempted murder of former President Trump today," President Biden said in a statement on the White House website, Monday, September 15.

"A suspect has been detained, and I commend the work of Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe," President Biden praised.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump survived Sunday after the FBI thwarted what appeared to be an attempted murder while he was playing golf on his golf course at West Palm Beach, Florida.

Secret Service agents saw and opened fire on an armed man in the bushes near the golf course property limit, a few hundred meters from where Trump played golf, law enforcement officials said.

The suspect left the AK-47 assault rifle and other items at the scene and fled by vehicle but was later arrested.

Fox News presenter Sean Hannity said he had spoken to Trump and Steve Witkoff, a New York real estate investor and Trump's old friend who was on the golf course with him on Sunday.

"They are in the fifth hole. And the way Steve describes this, the way the president describes it, the two of them have exactly the same story, is that they hear pop pop, pop pop," said Hannity.

Secret Service "recorded the president, protected him", he added.

Separately, Trump emailed his supporters saying there was a "shot around me, but before rumors started spreading out of control, I want you to hear this first: I'M SAFE AND HEALTHY!" according to an email seen by Reuters.

President Biden said he was relieved Trump survived unharmed. He ensured that investigations related to the incident were carried out and the authorities collected evidence.

"As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or violence in our country," said President Biden.

In response to reporters' questions, officials admitted that because Donald Trump was not in office, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the entire golf course was not closed.

"If he takes office, we will close the entire golf course," Bradshaw said at Sunday's briefing.

"Because he is not in office, security is limited to areas deemed possible by the Secret Service," he continued.

It's unclear whether or how the suspect knew Trump was playing golf at the time, but the attempted attack would definitely raise new questions about the level of protection he was given to him.

"I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every necessary resources, capabilities and safeguards to ensure the safety of the former President on an ongoing basis," President Biden said.