Man Found Guilty of Attempting to Assassinate Trump at Golf Course

A jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, found Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course on September 15, 2024. After two hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Routh on multiple charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer. Routh had pleaded not guilty and represented himself during the trial.

Prosecutors detailed how Routh meticulously plotted the assassination over several weeks. On the day of the incident, he aimed a rifle at Trump while the former president was playing golf at his West Palm Beach country club. Routh argued in his closing statement that he never intended to kill anyone, claiming, “It’s hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled.” He pointed out that he could have also shot a Secret Service agent who confronted him, suggesting that his actions were not intended to harm.

Routh, 59, opted not to testify in his defense and rested his case after questioning only three witnesses—one firearms expert and two character witnesses—over approximately three hours. In contrast, the prosecution presented a case over seven days, calling 38 witnesses. Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the verdict, stating, “This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation.”

The presiding judge, Aileen Cannon, approved Routh’s request to represent himself after two hearings held in July. The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes a defendant’s right to self-representation, provided they demonstrate competence in waiving their right to legal counsel. Throughout the trial, Routh’s former defense attorneys served as standby counsel, available to assist him when needed.

During the trial, a Secret Service agent testified that he noticed Routh before Trump came into view. The agent recounted how Routh aimed his rifle at him, prompting the agent to fire his weapon. This action caused Routh to drop his rifle and flee the scene without discharging it. Following the incident, law enforcement received assistance from a witness who reported seeing a person running away after hearing gunfire. This witness was later transported via police helicopter to a nearby interstate, where he identified Routh as the suspect.

This incident followed an earlier assassination attempt on Trump just nine weeks prior, during his campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania. That attack involved a gunman who fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Routh, originally from North Carolina, had lived in Hawaii in recent years. He described himself as a mercenary leader, expressing intentions to involve himself in global conflicts. Witnesses reported that he attempted to recruit fighters from various countries early in the conflict in Ukraine.

His criminal history includes a 2002 arrest in Greensboro, North Carolina, for evading a traffic stop while armed with a fully automatic machine gun and explosives. In 2010, police found over 100 stolen items in a warehouse he owned, including power tools and recreational equipment. In those cases, Routh received either probation or suspended sentences.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder. The jury’s verdict underscores the seriousness of the crime and the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to address threats against public figures.