In a stunning verdict that reverberates through the heart of American politics, a Florida jury has found Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump.
The Daily Caller reported that on Tuesday, Routh, a 59-year-old from Hawaii, was convicted on five serious charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple gun-related offenses, following a tense 12-day trial at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Let’s rewind to the chilling start of this saga on September 15, 2024, when a vigilant Secret Service agent spotted Routh lurking in the bushes at Trump’s golf club, armed with a rifle.
The timing couldn’t be more harrowing—coming just two months after a bullet grazed Trump’s ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, underscoring the persistent dangers faced by the president.
Routh bolted from the scene after the agent fired warning shots, but law enforcement tracked him down and arrested him later that day, preventing what could have been a tragic outcome.
Fast forward to the trial, where federal prosecutors painted a damning picture of a man obsessed with stopping Trump’s political future, alleging Routh meticulously tracked the president’s movements and visited the golf course 17 times before the incident.
Jurors were presented with a handwritten note Routh left with former employees in North Carolina, offering a staggering $150,000 to anyone willing to finish what he started—a chilling glimpse into a dark mindset.
Representing himself, Routh took the stand to argue his own innocence, calling a firearms expert and two character witnesses to vouch for his supposed peaceful nature, though his antics often veered into the bizarre.
In pre-trial filings, he even challenged Trump to a golf match with a twisted wager: “A round of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me, I win I get his job,” Routh wrote, a statement so outlandish it’s hard to take seriously, yet speaks volumes about his unhinged bravado.
Judge Aileen Cannon had to step in during Routh’s opening statement on September 11, 2025, cutting him off when he rambled about foreign leaders, sternly warning against turning the court into a circus—because, apparently, justice isn’t a stage for geopolitical fan fiction.
The trial featured testimony from 38 witnesses, including FBI agents and Secret Service members, weaving a tight narrative of intent and danger, while Routh’s self-defense floundered under the weight of evidence.
As the guilty verdict was delivered on September 23, 2025, Routh’s reaction was as dramatic as his defense—courtroom reports indicate he attempted to harm himself with a pen, a desperate act that underscores the gravity of his situation.
With a maximum penalty of life in prison looming, Routh’s sentencing is set for December 18, 2025, marking the end of a saga that has gripped the nation and reminded us of the ever-present threats to our leaders.
President Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social, calling Routh “an evil man with an evil intention,” and praising the Secret Service and a quick-thinking individual who aided in his capture—a rare moment of public gratitude that highlights the stakes of this near-tragedy.
Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this sentiment, stating, “The verdict illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence,” a firm reminder that attempts to subvert our democratic process through violence will not be tolerated, no matter how much the progressive agenda tries to downplay such acts.
