Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison for plot to assassinate Donald Trump
Ryan Routh, 59, was convicted last September on five criminal counts, including attempted assassination, after a jury found he had waited for hours in bushes near a golf course where Trump was playing.
A Florida man who plotted to assassinate Donald Trump was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, closing one of the most serious criminal cases linked to political violence in the run-up to the 2024 election.
The attempted assassination took place on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach.
Ryan Routh, 59, was convicted last September on five criminal counts, including attempted assassination, after a jury found he had waited for hours in bushes near a golf course where Trump was playing. He was sentenced by US District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, Florida.
"It’s clear to me that you engaged in a premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life," Cannon said while delivering the sentence.
Prosecutors had sought life imprisonment, calling the attack a direct threat to democratic institutions. Routh, who represented himself during the trial, had asked for a reduced sentence of 27 years.
Routh was found guilty of attempted assassination, three counts of illegal firearm possession and one count of impeding a federal officer. The jury returned its verdict after hearing testimony from Secret Service agents, investigators and other law enforcement officials.
During Wednesday’s hearing, lead prosecutor John Shipley told the court that Routh’s actions were aimed at "upending American democracy" and required a strong response. He urged the judge to send a clear message that attacks on political leaders would not be tolerated.
ROUTH SAYS HE DID NOT INTEND TO KILL
Routh appeared in court wearing beige prison clothing and shackles. He delivered a rambling statement that focused largely on international conflicts and his desire to be exchanged for political prisoners abroad.
"I have given every drop of who I am every day for the betterment of my community and this nation," he told the court.
In earlier filings, Routh denied that he intended to kill Trump. He claimed he was willing to undergo psychological treatment in prison and argued that his lack of legal training had prevented him from mounting an effective defence.
Prosecutors rejected those claims, saying Routh had spent months preparing for the attack and had shown no remorse.
In court documents, they said his conduct "undeniably warrant(s) a life sentence" because he was prepared to kill anyone who stood in his way.
ATTACK PLOT AT FLORIDA GOLF COURSE
Secret Service agents spotted Routh hiding in thick bushes a few hundred yards from Trump’s location. He was carrying an assault-style rifle and had positioned himself with a clear view of the course. Routh fled when discovered, leaving behind the weapon and other equipment. He was arrested later that day.
Investigators said he had arrived in South Florida about a month earlier and had been staying at a truck stop while tracking Trump’s movements. Evidence presented at trial showed he carried six mobile phones and used false names to avoid detection.
Officers also found two bags containing metal plates resembling body armour and a video camera aimed at the course, suggesting he intended to record the attack. Prosecutors said Routh waited nearly 10 hours in the bushes on the day of the incident.
The case unfolded against a tense political backdrop. It came just two months after another gunman grazed Trump’s ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Both incidents occurred before the November 2024 election, in which Trump returned to the White House after losing four years earlier to Democrat Joe Biden.
After the verdict, Trump praised the outcome on Truth Social, writing: "This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him."