- Ryan Routh, 59, convicted in Florida for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in September 2024.
- Jury found him guilty on all counts, including attempted assassination and firearm charges.
- He was caught hiding with a rifle at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach.
- Routh displayed erratic behavior during trial, defending himself and making bizarre statements.
- He attempted self-harm with a pen after hearing the guilty verdict.
- Sentencing set for December 18; he faces life imprisonment.
- Evidence included a scoped rifle, an extended magazine, and notes indicating premeditation.
- The case follows another attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania earlier the same year.
- Authorities stress rising concerns over political violence in the US.
A Florida jury has delivered a guilty verdict against 59-year-old Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump while he was on a golf course near his Mar-a-Lago residence in September 2024.
The trial, which unfolded in Fort Pierce, revealed how Routh hid in the bushes of Trump’s golf club armed with a semi-automatic rifle equipped with a scope and extended magazine. Although he never had a clear shot, investigators discovered a chambered round and a detailed list of Trump’s future appearances, pointing to months of careful planning.
Routh, originally from North Carolina but living in Hawaii before the attack, took the unusual step of representing himself in court. His defense was marked by erratic outbursts, ranging from challenging Trump to a golf game to weaving in discussions about world leaders, evolution, and kindness. Judges repeatedly cut him short for straying into irrelevant or prohibited territory.
When the jury pronounced him guilty on all charges—including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and multiple firearms offenses—Routh tried to stab himself with a pen before marshals restrained him.
He now awaits sentencing in December and could face life behind bars. Prosecutors emphasized that his preparations showed clear intent to kill, despite his insistence that he never pulled the trigger.
This case came just months after another attempt on Trump’s life at a Pennsylvania rally, which resulted in one death and several injuries. With political tensions running high, authorities say the conviction underscores growing fears about escalating violence against public figures in the United States.
