Here are three glaring questions for the Secret Service following Ryan Routh’s attempt on Trump's life

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former president Donald Trump was once again the target of an assassination attempt — and this one’s got people asking a lot of questions.

Picture this: Trump is casually playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a man armed with an AK-47 rifle is hiding in the bushes, ready to strike. It might sound like a scene out of a spy thriller, but it’s all too real.

Just weeks after narrowly escaping a bullet that grazed the top of his ear at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump found himself in the crosshairs once again. This time, it was Ryan Wesley Routh, who was armed and ready to make a move. Routh was hiding a good 500 yards away from Trump, but that didn’t make the situation any less nerve-wracking.

Ryan Routh had planned something big

On a fateful Sunday afternoon, September 15, Donald Trump was enjoying his round of golf when things took a dangerous turn. Shots were fired near the club, causing quite the commotion. Fortunately for Trump, his security team was on high alert and quickly got him out of harm's way. Ryan Routh was arrested after attempting to flee the scene.

But it didn’t end there. The authorities found an AK-47, a GoPro camera, and a backpack left behind — making it clear that Routh had planned something big. The incident immediately rekindled concerns about the safety of presidential candidates, especially with Election Day looming just around the corner.

This wasn’t the first time Trump has faced such danger in recent weeks. Remember the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania? Trump was speaking to his supporters when lone gunman Thomas Crooks fired a shot that left the former president bleeding.

Though Trump survived it was a close call, and with this second assassination attempt, many are wondering just how secure his future appearances will be.

As law enforcement continues to investigate what happened at the West Palm Beach golf course, security experts are already pointing out the gaps in protection that could have led to such a near-disaster.

How did Ryan Routh know Donald Trump's whereabouts?

One big question on everyone's mind is how Ryan Wesley Routh knew where Donald Trump would be playing golf that day. According to Richard Aitch — a former Royal Military Police officer and author of 'Close Protection: A Closer Observation of the Protection Equation' — Routh had to have had some inside information.

“Trump had decided to play golf at the last minute,” he told The US Sun. “The threat had to know the place, date, time, and activity of the target. It raises the question: ‘How did that threat obtain the intelligence needed to plot up in advance?’ That is one question that will no doubt the Secret Service will need to get to the bottom of.”

Former MI6 officer Matthew Dunn also chimed in. He believes that Routh might’ve had some advance information. “We can surmise that there probably was advance information, and after all, this is Donald Trump’s golf course,” Dunn explained. “This is his leisure location of choice. This is where he goes.”

How did Ryan Routh manage to sneak in a rifle?

Another mystery is how Ryan Routh managed to sneak in with an AK-47 rifle. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed that security personnel were already scoping out the scene, staying a few holes ahead of Trump. One of the agents spotted Routh with the assault rifle, but the question remains: how did he get so close in the first place?

“How did that man get there in that position with a rifle?” Aitch asked. “Ultimately, that is another question that’s going to be answered.”

The layout of the golf course itself presents a unique challenge. Dunn noted that golf courses are notoriously difficult to secure. With their sprawling terrains, natural forests, and uneven landscapes, they make it easy for someone to hide and hard for security to keep track of everything.

“The undulations, the forestry, or everything that you can imagine makes it a security nightmare,” he said. “The issue, of course, is what to do about that kind of operating environment for the Secret Service.”

Dunn delved into the security risks that are associated with golf courses. 

“Golf courses are one of the most scripted, structured walks one can take on planet Earth,” he explained. “If you are a shooter, you know precisely where somebody is going to be at any particular point because it follows a scripted, predetermined route. So it’s a shooter’s dream compounded by the fact that it’s very difficult to protect and to defend against.”

Should the Secret Service have deployed surveillance drones?

As more details emerged, some Republicans began questioning law enforcement’s tactics. Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett was shocked in disbelief that no drones were used to monitor the area. In an interview with Fox News, Burchett bluntly asked why Donald Trump wasn’t being protected from the sky.

Aitch echoed Burchett’s concerns. “The advantage of a drone, especially with the camera technology these days, is with thermal capability,” he said. “Anyone laying in wait in dense foliage, tree lines, and so on, is going to be immediately identified. You’re not relying on the mark of one eyeball in advance of the principle on the ground.”

Drones could have provided an extra layer of protection, especially when there are manpower limitations. “You need to focus where that budget can be best placed, and the use of a drone can take up, in effect, many man-hours on the ground,” Aitch added.

What's next for Donald Trump's security?

As authorities dig deeper into what went wrong, it’s clear that security for Donald Trump will need to be reassessed. Matthew Dunn noted that the Secret Service will likely ramp up security in light of this attack.

"There'll be resource issues attached to that," he warned. "There'll be perhaps even constitutional or protocol issues raised because it won't just stop with Donald Trump. Donald Trump is now not serving as president, so should this, therefore, be extended to all candidates who are running for the presidency? Nevertheless, this is something that will be explored at this particular point in terms of what level of security should be granted."

Meanwhile, the man behind the latest attempt on Trump’s life has already made his first court appearance. Ryan Wesley Routh is facing some serious charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and having a gun with an obliterated serial number. If convicted, Routh could be looking at a hefty 15-year sentence behind bars.