Rep. Randy Fine condemned what he described as an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, warning that the episode reflects what he called growing political violence in the United States. His remarks came after federal agents fatally shot an armed intruder who entered the secured perimeter of Trump’s Palm Beach residence overnight, prompting a joint federal and local investigation and renewed debate in Washington over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
The attempted assassination of President Trump at Mar-a-Lago is a stark reminder of growing leftist political violence in our country.
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 22, 2026
Grateful to the Secret Service who neutralized the terrorist. Even as Democrats refuse to pay them because of their shutdown of the Department…
“The attempted assassination of President Trump at Mar-a-Lago is a stark reminder of growing leftist political violence in our country,” Fine wrote in a public statement. “Grateful to the Secret Service who neutralized the terrorist. Even as Democrats refuse to pay them because of their shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, these men and women continue to stand their post. Thankful President Trump is safe and nervous about the future of our country.”
The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. Sunday at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. According to the U.S. Secret Service, a male in his early 20s unlawfully entered the secure perimeter near the property’s north gate while carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.
An armed man was shot & killed by U.S. Secret Service agents & @PBCountySheriff after unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning. A press briefing with additional details will be held at 9:00 a.m with @FBI and Palm Beach County. pic.twitter.com/jAXhdb1xEL
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 22, 2026
Agents, along with a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, confronted the individual. Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said the suspect was ordered to drop the weapon and the gas can. “At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw told reporters. Law enforcement officers then opened fire. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said no Secret Service personnel or sheriff’s deputies were injured, and there were no Secret Service protectees present at the property at the time of the encounter. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. As is standard protocol following a use-of-force incident, the Secret Service agents involved have been placed on routine administrative leave while the review proceeds.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the actions of the Secret Service, calling the response “quickly and decisively” executed. “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home,” she wrote. Leavitt also criticized Democrats amid the ongoing funding dispute over the Department of Homeland Security, saying, “It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.”
In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home. Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our… https://t.co/MYTsHqR4cx
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 22, 2026
The Secret Service operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which is currently facing a partial shutdown after Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed funding bill. The standoff centers on disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and proposed reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The funding impasse has intensified partisan tensions in Washington, providing the backdrop for both Leavitt’s and Fine’s comments tying the Mar-a-Lago incident to broader political disputes.
Fine, who represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District, has been a very outspoken figure on issues related to national security, immigration and religious extremism, always defending President Trump.
Sunday’s shooting at Mar-a-Lago adds to an already charged political climate, with debates over immigration policy, federal law enforcement funding and national security dominating congressional proceedings. As federal and local authorities continue to examine the suspect’s background, potential motive and the circumstances surrounding the use of force, additional details are expected to be released in the coming days.
