On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, a Florida jury found Ryan Wesley Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The verdict comes just over a year after the September 15, 2024, incident, which unfolded in the tense final weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign. The case, tried under intense national scrutiny, has reignited debates about political violence and security for public figures in the United States.
According to BBC and NBC News, the courtroom drama reached a fever pitch after the jury delivered its verdict. Routh, 59, attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen in front of stunned onlookers, prompting his daughter to cry out, "Dad, don't hurt yourself," as U.S. Marshals rushed to restrain him. Despite the chaos, Routh was returned to the courtroom, handcuffed and apparently unharmed, to complete the proceedings. His son, Adam, told him, "We love you dad," as Routh was escorted away, even managing a wink at his children.
The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, took just two and a half hours to deliberate before finding Routh guilty on all five counts: attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and three federal firearms offenses. Prosecutors argued that Routh had meticulously planned the attack, stockpiling military-grade weapons and more than a dozen burner phones, and researching Trump's movements and campaign events. They asserted that Routh's intent was clear from a handwritten note he left in a box at a friend's house, which read, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you."
During the trial, federal prosecutors presented 38 witnesses over seven days, placing Routh at the scene and testifying that he could have killed Trump had he not been caught. Secret Service Agent Robert Fercano testified that he spotted Routh hiding in the shrubbery near the fifth hole of the golf course, aiming an AK-style rifle with a scope and extended magazine from behind a perimeter fence. Fercano opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot. Routh was arrested nearby, thanks in part to information provided by a witness who saw him fleeing the scene.
Routh, a North Carolina native and resident of Hawaii, opted to represent himself during the trial after clashing with his court-appointed attorneys. Judge Aileen Cannon, who presided over the case, reluctantly granted his request, calling it a "bad idea," but required the public defenders to remain on standby. Routh's self-representation led to a series of bizarre and sometimes rambling statements, including challenging Trump to a game of golf, requesting access to a putting green, and referencing historical figures such as Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Putin during his opening remarks. The judge repeatedly admonished him for straying outside the bounds of the case and for questioning witnesses about irrelevant topics.
In his closing argument, Routh insisted he never intended to kill anyone, arguing, "It's hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled." He maintained that simply possessing a weapon in another's presence did not constitute intent. Speaking about himself in the third person, Routh said, "The shooting was never going to happen because it was never in his heart." Prosecutor Christopher Browne countered that Routh's actions were no coincidence, stating, "He had a loaded round in the chamber and the safety off. We don't have to prove motive, but you already have it. You only have to decide intent."
Prosecutors also alleged in court filings that Routh had attempted to acquire an anti-aircraft weapon, further highlighting the seriousness of his preparations. The court heard that Routh left behind a list of locations where Trump was expected to appear, underscoring the level of planning involved in the assassination attempt.
The verdict was met with strong reactions from across the political spectrum. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called the verdict "A very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA!" and thanked Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department of Justice team, the judge, and the jury for their roles in the conviction. He described Routh as "an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him."
Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this sentiment, stating, "This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself." She added, "Today’s guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence." Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized, "The verdict sends a clear message that an attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate is an attack on our Republic and on the rights of every citizen." FBI Director Kash Patel called the attempt "a disgusting act — mere weeks before an election and only months after a separate assassination attempt came dangerously close to succeeding." He praised the FBI and its partners for their swift and diligent work in bringing the case to a resolution.
This was the second high-profile attempt on Trump's life in 2024. Just two months prior, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire, killing one person and injuring several others, including Trump, who was grazed by a bullet. The shooter in that incident was killed at the scene. The back-to-back assassination attempts have heightened anxieties about political violence in the United States, especially as the country continues to grapple with deep partisan divides.
Routh's sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2025. He faces the possibility of life in prison. The trial and its aftermath have underscored the challenges facing law enforcement and the judiciary in safeguarding public figures and upholding the rule of law in an era marked by increasing threats and political polarization.
As the dust settles, the conviction of Ryan Routh stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by political extremism and the resilience of the institutions tasked with protecting democracy — even when the threats come from within.
