Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines on September 17, 2024, by announcing a state investigation into an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. During a news conference in West Palm Beach, DeSantis signed an executive order authorizing the investigation, emphasizing that the state has jurisdiction to potentially charge the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, with attempted murder. He raised concerns about the objectivity of federal investigators, questioning their ability to conduct an unbiased investigation given their involvement in Trump's legal troubles. DeSantis stated, "In my judgment, it's not in the best interest of our state or our nation to have the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump leading this investigation. " He explained that federal law restricts the Justice Department from prosecuting cases involving individuals who are not current federal officials or president-elects.

The investigation will be led by Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution. Meanwhile, the FBI has also launched its own inquiry into the assassination attempt. This development underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding Trump and the implications of state versus federal jurisdiction in high-profile cases.