Zelenskyy sends 'best wishes' to Trump, denounces political violence after assassination attempt

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced political violence and sent his best wishes to Donald Trump following a second assassination attempt on the former president.

Zelenskyy's comments come as the suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Routh, has been identified as an outspoken supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia.

In a post on social media site X early Monday, Zelenskyy said: "I am glad that (Donald Trump) is safe and unharmed. My best wishes to him and his family."

Secret Service agents on Sunday opened fire at an armed suspect who appeared to be lying in wait for Trump at the Republican presidential candidate's golf course in Florida.

Trump was unharmed in what the FBI classified as an assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach as the former president was golfing.

Suspected gunman taken into custody

Trump had been golfing Sunday around 2 p.m. when Secret Service agents on the course spotted a man who appeared to be sticking the barrel of a rifle through the fence at the edge of the course. The agents opened fire on the man, who fled.

Authorities quickly identified the suspect's vehicle and traced it to neighboring Martin County to the north, where the armed suspect, Routh, was taken into custody while driving on Interstate 95.

The assassination attempt was the second on the former president in as many months after Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13.

"It’s good that the suspect in the assassination attempt was apprehended quickly," Zelenskyy said in the post. "This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world. We sincerely hope that everyone remains safe."

Zelesnkyy's sentiment largely echoed that of President Joe Biden, who vowed to make sure the Secret Service has "every resource" for Trump's safety, adding that "there is no place for political violence."

Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent in the upcoming presidential election, said in a statement that she was "deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt."

"We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence," Harris said. "I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance."

Who is Ryan Routh? Suspect supported Ukraine

Routh, who is awaiting a federal court appearance, appears to be an impassioned supporter of Ukraine who has expressed his willingness to fight and even die to repel the Russian invasion.

In a slew of social media posts and media interviews in recent years, Routh has claimed to have not only fought in Ukraine himself, but to have helped recruit others to take up arms.

A profile for Ryan Routh on X dates to January 2020, where he posted a range of opinions on issues including Black Lives Matter, Taiwanese sovereignty and supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia.

In spring 2022, Routh suggested in a series of X posts that he had traveled to Ukraine to fight on behalf of the country. In one, he tagged Zelenskyy's account, telling him, "I am an American coming to fight with you in Ukraine; I am flying into Krakow and will take any transport to Kyiv to meet you and fight to the death ... We must get every civilian in the world to come and join the fight; I will be the example. Attack moscow now."

USA TODAY could not confirm if Routh actually did travel to Ukraine.

In a series of interviews with news media, Routh urged other Americans to join him in Ukraine to fight against Russian forces.

"If everybody’s complacent and doesn’t join this fight, guess who's going to win," Routh said in a videotaped interview with Romanian Newsweek in June 2022. "It might take 10 years, but we’re going to lose this battle if everyone around the globe doesn’t stop what they're doing, get off the couch and come to Ukraine and defend the human rights of everyone around the globe. This is the most important thing going on today."

A New York Times story in March 2023 described Routh as a "former construction worker from Greensboro, N.C" and said Routh was recruiting Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban to fight in Ukraine. He told the Times dozens of them had expressed interest.

Contributing:  Sarah D. Wire, Rick Jervis, Will Carless, Josh Meyer, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY; Reuters

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zelenskyy denounces Trump assassination attempt, sends 'best wishes'