A Florida jury found Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump last year at one of his golf courses. The verdict came after approximately two and a half hours of deliberations, with Routh convicted on all counts, including attempted assassination, assaulting a Secret Service agent, and multiple federal gun charges.
Routh, who represented himself during the trial, delivered a 42-minute closing argument marked by tangents and disruptions. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon intervened multiple times, reprimanding him for straying from the case’s scope. During his remarks, Routh referenced unrelated topics such as the January 6 Capitol riot and Ukraine before being cut off.
The charges included attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, and unlawful firearm possession. Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, after Secret Service agents observed him hiding with an SKS-style rifle near Trump during a golf event. The attempted attack occurred two months after Trump survived a near-fatal shooting at a campaign rally.
Throughout the trial, Routh faced repeated warnings from the court for disruptive behavior and irrelevant statements. The jury’s decision concludes a case that drew significant public attention amid ongoing debates over threats against political figures.