The man who allegedly tried to assassinate President Trump in Florida last September had tried to acquire a rocket launcher from Ukraine, according to a Justice Department filing in Florida’s Southern District.
Ryan Wesley Routh was believed to be communicating via an encrypted messaging app with someone he believed to be a Ukrainian national with access to military-grade weapons just a month before the attempted attack.
Prosecutors claim Routh said: “Send me an RPG or stinger and I will see what we can do… [Trump] is not good for Ukraine.” He allegedly added, “I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected.”
According to the court filing, Routh also sent the contact a photo of Trump’s campaign plane with the message: “Trump’s plane, he gets on and off daily.” In reference to the previous failed attempt on Trump’s life in July 2024, Routh also allegedly commented, “I wish.”
Prosecutors argue that these conversations, which included negotiations over pricing and shipping of weapons, further demonstrate Routh’s intent to assassinate Trump. The filing states: “Trying to acquire a destructive weapon with the intent to destroy President Trump’s plane clearly falls within the scope of an attempted assassination, and Routh’s own words about why he sought the weapon highlight his intent.”
The court filing does not identify the individual Routh was communicating with, but emphasizes that the conversation itself constituted “a significant step toward carrying out his plan.”
Routh has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate.
