Life Sentence for Man Who Attempted to Assassinate Trump

Ryan Routh has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in September of 2024. Routh, 59, was found guilty last year of trying to kill Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

A US Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel poking out of the bushes and promptly fired at Routh, who fled the scene but was later arrested nearby. In her sentencing memorandum, Judge Aileen Cannon stated that Routh's crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence.

In her remarks, Judge Cannon emphasized that Routh took steps over months to assassinate Trump, demonstrating a willingness to harm anyone who obstructed him, while showing no remorse for his actions. Routh's attorney confirmed plans to appeal the conviction.

Routh, who represented himself during the trial, exhibited erratic behavior, including bizarre remarks about challenging Trump to a golf game and making disjointed historical references. After being found guilty, Routh attempted to stab himself with a pen in court.

Though Routh did not have a clear line of sight to Trump, he was found with a semiautomatic rifle and was reported to have left behind a detailed list of places where Trump might appear along with a note describing his actions as an assassination attempt. This incident was not the first attempted attack on Trump in 2024, with another shooting occurring at a campaign rally earlier in July, resulting in casualties.