Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, exhibited alarming behaviour immediately following the verdict. After being found guilty of all charges by a jury—including attempting to kill a major presidential candidate and possessing firearms as a convicted felon—Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen in the courthouse. Officers intervened swiftly, escorting him from the premises.
Routh, 59, had spent weeks planning the assassination before he aimed a rifle at Trump while he was golfing on September 15, 2024. Prosecutors painted a picture of a meticulous scheme, while Routh maintained he did not intend to kill anyone that day, arguing to the jury that he never pulled the trigger on his weapon and could have shot a Secret Service agent instead. His defence was brief; he chose not to testify and called only three witnesses, contrasting sharply with the prosecution’s extensive presentation of 38 witnesses over several days.
After the verdict, his daughter, Sara Routh, pleaded with him not to harm himself, asserting her belief that his case was rigged. She waited outside the courthouse’s guard gate for her father to be taken away to prison.
Routh’s extensive criminal history includes a 2002 incident where he eluded police with an automatic weapon and a prior felony involving a dangerous explosive device. He attempted to position himself as a mercenary leader and had questionable ambitions, even trying to recruit fighters during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Legal authorities, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, underscored the significance of the guilty verdict, highlighting it as a testament to a commitment against political violence. Routh is also facing state charges of terrorism and attempted murder separate from the federal case. Now awaiting sentencing, he illustrates a troubling case of violent intent against a public figure.