A 58-year-old man, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been arrested for an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Here’s what we know.
1. The Arrest and Incident
On September 15, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Secret Service officials spotted him crouching near a Florida golf course with a rifle as Trump played nearby. After being fired at by officials, Routh fled the scene but was later apprehended 50 miles away.
2. Support for Ukraine
Routh was an outspoken supporter of Ukraine during the country’s war against Russia. In 2022, he traveled to Ukraine, hoping to fight against Russian forces but was turned down due to his age and lack of military experience. He tried to recruit Afghan fighters to join the Ukrainian cause and even wrote a 291-page book on his disillusionment with the war.
3. Previous Legal Issues
Routh has a criminal record dating back to 2002. He faced charges for possession of a weapon of mass destruction and was involved in several misdemeanors, including hit-and-run and resisting arrest. Despite this troubled history, he was once honored as a “super citizen” for his involvement in stopping a crime in 1991.
4. Critic of Trump
Although Routh voted Democratic in the 2024 primary, his now-suspended X account revealed his dissatisfaction with Trump. He criticized Trump, saying in a 2020 post that while he supported him in 2016, he was disappointed by Trump’s presidency.