Former President Trump is "safe" following reports of gunshots "in his vicinity", Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a Sept. 15 statement, that read: “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.”
The former President was reportedly playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida when the gunshots were heard. According to CNN, the golf course was immediately locked down after the incident.
At this point, it is not clear if the incident was an assassination attempt on the former President. However, officials do believe the shooter was attempting to target the President. Donald Trump Jr., the son of the former President, also claimed that an AK-47 rifle was recovered at the scene by law enforcement officials.
Source: Trump 2024 Presidential Campaign.
A previous assassination attempt on former President Trump occurred on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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Assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania
The July 13 assassination attempt on the former President was thwarted after Secret Service agents fatally wounded the shooter—later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.
Following the assassination attempt, Trump's odds of winning the Presidency soared on prediction markets, and the Donald Trump-themed memecoin MAGA (TRUMP) likewise spiked by 52%.
These increased odds also created a corresponding rally for Bitcoin (BTC)— causing the price of Bitcoin to reach $64,671 on July 15. At the time of the failed assassination, Austin Campbell—founder of Zero Knowledge Consulting—told Cointelegraph: “Historically, attempted assassinations have led to an uptick in support for candidates.”
The current Polymarket odds
Trump's significant lead on Polymarket was eroded following the debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The former President's odds of winning the election slid by 3% during the debate—putting Trump and Harris neck-and-neck on the online prediction market.
Current Polymarket 2024 Presidential election odds. Source: Polymarket.
The Polymarket odds favoring Trump were at their highest levels directly following the failed assassination attempt—when President Joe Biden was still the Democrat Party's nominee for the 2024 Presidential ticket. Since that time, the margins between the competing political campaigns have significantly narrowed as the November elections draw closer.
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