The cover of Time Magazine, which depicted Donald Trump stuck in a golf course sand trap with the caption "In Trouble," went viral after an eerie coincidence.
The issue was published on September 11, and just four days later, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested for allegedly pointing an AK-47 at Trump while he was at a golf course.
Although Trump was unharmed, the timing of the magazine cover and the incident left social media users unsettled.
A former FBI official suggested that Routh may have had inside information about Trump's schedule, as his golf game had not been publicly announced and was a last-minute decision.
The Secret Service first spotted a rifle barrel sticking out from a fence at the golf course and opened fire. Routh fled but was later arrested.
Chris Swecker, a retired FBI assistant director, told Newsweek that investigators will be looking into how the suspect knew Trump would be at the West Palm Beach golf club.
"The biggest question to answer is: 'How did the would-be assassin know to be at that location at that time?'" Swecker said.
He noted three possible explanations: a lucky guess, surveillance, or inside information, with the latter raising the most concern.
Acting US Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe has decided to stay in Florida indefinitely as the investigation continues.
President Joe Biden responded to the attempt, saying, "Thank God the president is okay," and called for Congress to provide additional resources to the Secret Service if needed.
