Summary
Self-described mission to prevent a second Trump presidency, citing Trump's stated positions on Ukraine and Iran; pre-positioned with rifle pointed through fence and was spotted before Trump came into his line of sight.
"Handwritten 'Dear World' note: 'This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.'"
Key facts
- Spotted by a Secret Service agent patrolling one hole ahead of Trump
- Fled by car after agent opened fire; arrested in Martin County, FL
- Convicted by jury September 23, 2025; sentenced February 4, 2026
- Had 100+ prior criminal counts in North Carolina including 2002 WMD conviction
- Falsely claimed Ukrainian Foreign Legion service; Legion stated he had never been part of, associated with, or linked to it
Perpetrator profile
- Full name
- Ryan Wesley Routh
- Age at time
- 58
- Date of birth
- 1966-02-19
- Gender
- Male
- Race / ethnicity
- White
- Nationality
- American
- Residence
- Kaaawa, HI (formerly Greensboro, NC)
- Education
- No post-secondary degree publicly documented
- Occupation
- Roofing contractor / shed-builder in Hawaii; self-styled 'recruiter' for Ukraine's International Legion (the Legion publicly disowned any link to him)
- Political affiliation
- Pivoted from Trump-2016 supporter to fierce critic; donated ≈20 times to ActBlue between Sep 2019 – Mar 2020 ($1–$25); voted in 2024 North Carolina Democratic primary
- Mental health (reported)
- Family members and acquaintances described long history of erratic, delusional behaviour; no formal diagnosis publicly confirmed
- Prior criminal record
- Yes
- Acted alone
- Yes
- Prior weapons training
- Self-taught; long-time gun owner; convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction after a three-hour standoff with police in Greensboro, NC
- Online footprint
- Self-published a 2023 book 'Ukraine's Unwinnable War'; active on X/Twitter posting about Ukraine, Iran and Trump; mailed a 'Dear World' letter months before the attempt acknowledging he might fail
- Family background
- Adult son Oran Routh publicly distanced family from his actions; Routh had been estranged from much of his family in years prior
Attempt & outcome
- Weapons & equipment
- Norinco SKS-style rifle with scope; Loaded magazine (19 rounds) + 1 chambered; Steel armour plates; Mounted camera
- Rounds fired — perpetrator
- 0
- Rounds fired — law enforcement
- 4
- Distance to target
- 366 m
- Trump present
- Yes
- Trump injured
- No
- Bystander casualties
- 0 killed · 0 injured
- Law-enforcement casualties
- 0 killed · 0 injured
- Current status
- Convicted & sentenced
- Sentence
- Life in prison plus 84 months (sentenced 2026-02-04)
- Preparation
- Began planning February 2024 per court records; dropped off a letter at a witness's residence in April 2024; lay in wait in shrubbery along the course fence-line for nearly 12 hours before Trump's tee time
Coverage timeline 17 articles
- Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida Wikipedia
Comprehensive reference covering planning, attack, trial, and aftermath.
- Routh sentenced to life in prison for attempted assassination of Trump U.S. Department of Justice
DOJ release confirms life-plus-84-months federal sentence imposed by Judge Cannon.
- Routh sentenced to life in prison for attempted assassination of Trump CNN
Sentencing coverage with courtroom reaction and victim impact statements.
- Ryan Routh sentenced to life in Trump assassination attempt NPR
Final sentence imposing life plus 84 months for the would-be Trump assassin.
- Jury convicts man of attempted assassination of President Trump U.S. Department of Justice
DOJ announces guilty verdict on all five federal counts after a two-week trial.
- Ryan Routh found guilty in Trump golf course assassination attempt NBC News
Verdict coverage including Routh's attempt to stab himself with a pen in court.
- Routh tries to stab himself in neck after guilty verdict CNN
Account of the post-verdict self-harm incident as bailiffs restrained Routh.
- Jury convicts Ryan Routh on all charges in attempted assassination NPR
NPR account of the verdict and Routh's chaotic self-representation strategy.
- Prosecutors rest their case in trial of accused Trump-attempt gunman NPR
Government rests after 38 witnesses detailing the SKS rifle, sniper's hide, and confession letter.
- Man accused of attempting to kill Trump heads to trial, representing himself CNN
Trial opens in Fort Pierce with Routh acting as his own lawyer.
- Routh indicted for attempted assassination of former President Trump U.S. Department of Justice
DOJ release announcing the five-count federal indictment returned in Miami.
- Routh charged with attempted assassination; case assigned to Judge Cannon CNN
Upgraded charges and case assignment to Judge Aileen Cannon.
- Ryan Routh's long, strange journey before the Trump assassination attempt Washington Post
Deep biographical reconstruction from North Carolina to the golf course.
- What's known about Ryan Wesley Routh CBS News
Early profile of the suspect's background, Hawaii ties, and prior brushes with law enforcement.
- Who is Ryan Routh? Suspect in Trump golf course incident NPR
NPR sketch of Routh as a former roofer turned self-styled Ukraine recruiter.
- Ryan Wesley Routh: from Ukraine to Hawaii, odd behaviour suggested grandeur CNN
Investigative profile of Routh's erratic activism and disputed Ukraine claims.
- Man detained after apparent assassination attempt at Trump golf club CNN
First-day report identifying the gunman in shrubbery at Trump International Golf Club.