In a shocking turn of events, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh was apprehended on Sunday, September 15, after allegedly attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump. The incident occurred near the boundary of Trump’s golf course at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Secret Service agents opened fire on Routh after he was spotted armed with a sniper rifle just a few hundred yards away as Trump played a round of golf.
Background of the Suspect
Routh, a resident of North Carolina, has a lengthy criminal record and a controversial online presence. According to a report by the New York Post, he had been a vocal critic of political figures and actively supported Democratic candidates. Records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that between September 2019 and March 2020, Routh donated over $140 to ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform.
His LinkedIn profile reveals that he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University before relocating to Hawaii in 2018. Although Routh had no formal military experience, he expressed an interest in armed conflict and had made numerous public statements advocating for civilians to participate in global wars.
A history of extremist posts
Routh’s social media activity painted a troubling picture of his escalating frustration. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Routh posted that he was willing to travel to the war zone and join the fight. In one particularly alarming post, he wrote, “I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE.”
He later claimed, in an interview with The New York Times, that he had indeed traveled to Ukraine to support the war effort and to recruit Afghan soldiers. His growing disillusionment with Trump became apparent in a June 2020 social media post in which he vented his frustration: “I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving; are you retarded; I will be glad when you gone.”
Son defends his father
Despite the accusations against him, Routh’s son, Oran, defended his father in an interview with The Daily Mail. While acknowledging that his father did not support Trump, Oran insisted that he is not a violent person. “I don’t like Trump either,” Oran said. “He’s my dad and all he’s had is couple traffic tickets, as far as I know. That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him.”
Oran described his father as a “nice” and “great” man who had worked his whole life. “He’s not a violent person. He’s a hard worker and a great dad. He’s a great dude, a nice guy and has worked his whole f–king life,” he added.
What we know so far
Authorities are continuing their investigation into Routh’s motives and his planned attack on the former president. The fact that Routh was allegedly armed with a sniper rifle and had positioned himself near Trump while he played golf suggests the incident was premeditated. However, Routh’s past public statements and behavior point to a complex figure, whose frustration and disillusionment may have led to this dangerous escalation.
As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge about Routh’s background and the factors that may have driven him to take such a drastic step. For now, questions remain about how a seemingly ordinary man with no military background came to attempt the assassination of a former president.