A West Palm Beach jury on Tuesday handed down a guilty verdict to Ryan Wesley Routh, the man who was spotted with a loaded semi-automatic rifle hiding out in the bushes next to the golf club where the U.S. president was playing a round of golf on September 15, 2024.
Routh was found guilty on all five counts of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Upon hearing the verdict, Routh reportedly attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen and was rushed out of the courtroom by bailiffs.
Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks plotting before staking out Trump International West Palm Beach Golf Club on September 15 last year. Testimony in the court showed that Routh hid in the bushes using military-style tactics—camouflage gear, bug spray, and even diapers—to stay concealed for long periods, actions prosecutors said showed premeditation with the intent to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Routh’s social media posts before the incident showed support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and hatred for Trump, including statements that “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot” and “We cannot afford to fail.”
After the verdict, conservative political commentator and podcaster Benny Johnson, a contributor and former chief creative officer at Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, said on X: “IMPORTANT REMINDER: Ryan Routh is yet another case of left-wing terrorism. … He will spend the rest of his life behind bars, exactly where left-wing terrorists belong.”
FBI Director Kash Patel credited the cooperation of different law enforcement agencies for bringing Routh to justice and said, “We have a lot more work to do to crack down on political violence and make sure those who engage in this heinous behavior are off the streets and behind bars. We won’t stop.”
After firing his court-appointed attorneys this summer, Routh has filed a slew of bizarre legal papers, including last month proposing settling the case with a round of golf where Trump, if he won, could execute Routh—and Routh, if he won, would become president.
During the trial, Judge Aileen Cannon cut off Routh’s opening statement after less than ten minutes due to his rambling remarks about prehistoric history and world leaders like Hitler, Putin, and Netanyahu. It remains unclear whether this was a deliberate attempt by Routh to appear mentally unstable to avoid a guilty verdict or a reflection of genuine mental illness.
Routh, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, now faces life in prison. Sentencing is set for December 18.
