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Gunshots Reported Near Former President Trump – Speculation of Assassination Attempt

Former President Trump has been confirmed as “safe” after gunshots were reportedly heard “in his vicinity.” Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, released a statement on September 15, stating: “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.”

Reports indicate that the former President was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when the incident occurred. The golf course was quickly locked down after the gunshots were heard, according to CNN.

It remains unclear whether this was an assassination attempt targeting the former President. However, some officials suspect the shooter might have been aiming for Trump. Donald Trump Jr. stated that law enforcement recovered an AK-47 rifle at the scene.

Assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

Trump was the target of a previous assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident was halted by Secret Service agents, who fatally shot the attacker, later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.

Following this event, Trump’s chances of winning the Presidency saw a sharp rise in prediction markets, and the MAGA (TRUMP) memecoin surged by 52%. The increased odds also triggered a spike in Bitcoin’s value, which reached $64,671 on July 15. At that time, Austin Campbell, founder of Zero Knowledge Consulting, commented: “Historically, attempted assassinations have led to an uptick in support for candidates.”

The current Polymarket odds

Despite Trump’s initial strong position on Polymarket, his lead was reduced following a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. His chances of winning the election decreased by 3% during the debate, making the race between Trump and Harris extremely tight on the online prediction market. The odds favoring Trump had peaked after the July 13 assassination attempt, during which President Joe Biden was still the Democratic nominee for the 2024 Presidential race. However, as the November election draws nearer, the gap between the two political campaigns has narrowed significantly.