FORT PIERCE, FL — In a landmark verdict that concludes a highly publicized trial, a federal jury in Florida has found Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, a crime that sent shockwaves through the nation during the 2024 presidential election campaign. The conviction, delivered after less than three hours of deliberation, closes the legal chapter on an attack that could have altered the course of American history.
Routh, 59, who represented himself in the two-week trial, was convicted on all five charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and assaulting a Secret Service agent. Prosecutors successfully argued that Routh had spent weeks meticulously plotting to kill Trump, using burner phones and making 17 reconnaissance trips to Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.
The failed assassination attempt took place on September 15, 2024, as Trump was playing golf. Routh, a self-styled mercenary leader with a history of erratic behavior, was discovered hiding in shrubbery with a high-powered SKS rifle. According to testimony from a Secret Service agent, Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who then fired on Routh, causing him to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot. Routh was arrested shortly after after a witness who saw him flee provided law enforcement with a description of his vehicle. A 12-page letter found at his residence, in which he wrote, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you,” sealed the prosecution’s case.
The verdict was met with a dramatic scene in the courtroom as Routh, after being found guilty, attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen. He was quickly subdued by U.S. Marshals and removed from the courtroom. The incident, which left him unharmed, served as a harrowing end to a trial marked by his rambling and at times bizarre statements.
The verdict was celebrated by the Department of Justice, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating on social media that it “illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence.” For the Secret Service, who also thwarted a separate assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania just two months prior, the verdict is a powerful affirmation of their work.
Routh faces a possible sentence of life in prison when he is sentenced on December 18. The jury’s swift decision serves as a powerful reminder of the deep divisions in the country and the constant threats to high-profile political figures, reinforcing the notion that in the current political climate, every day brings a new and unpredictable challenge to national security.