Trump recalls being bundled into golf cats after shots rang out

In his account, Trump recalled that he and friend Steve Witkoff “heard shots being fired in the air, I guess probably four or five” as Secret Service agents on the course’s next hole spotted the rifle and fired at the suspect.

The agents with Trump “knew immediately it was bullets, and they grabbed me”, he said.

“We got into the carts and we moved along pretty, pretty good. I was with an agent, and the agent did a fantastic job,” he said during the X Spaces event.

In comments to the Washington Post, he insisted that the incident, as well as an attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania on 13 July, had not affected him.

“But people ask me that question a lot, and I try not to think about it,” he said.

In a rare show of political unity, Trump also commended President Joe Biden for a “very nice” phone call after the apparent assassination attempt. The White House said Biden expressed his relief that Trump was safe.

Trump sought to blame the apparent attempt on “inflammatory language” from Democratic political rivals.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a potential motive for Routh, who has a history of legal problems and varied political affiliations.