The criminal trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate United States President Donald Trump, has officially begun. The proceedings come amid heightened fears of political violence in the country following the recent killing of far-right media personality Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Trump.
Routh, 59, is facing five serious charges, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, and could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. In a rare move, he chose to represent himself in court, dismissing public defenders initially assigned to his case. Although two standby lawyers remain available for logistical support, Routh insisted he did not want “a random stranger” speaking for him.
On the first day of trial, Routh delivered rambling remarks touching on subjects far removed from the case, including the origins of humanity, the settlement of the American frontier, and international conflicts. The presiding judge intervened, sending the jury out of the courtroom after Routh declared that the case meant “absolutely nothing.”
Prosecutors allege that Routh hid with a rifle near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024, where Trump was playing. The plan unraveled when a Secret Service agent spotted the weapon protruding from a fence and opened fire. Routh fled but was later apprehended on a Florida highway.
Routh’s background offers a complex picture. Originally from North Carolina, he later relocated to Hawaii, where he ran a shed-building business with his son. He previously expressed interest in international affairs, including traveling to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022, where he claimed to be recruiting Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban.
His political views have shifted over time. Although he once supported Trump, even voting for him in 2016, Routh later became disillusioned and voiced support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite this, his social media activity suggested contradictory positions, as he urged both Biden and Harris to show compassion to victims following the attempted shooting of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
Family members have described him as a hardworking, caring father, expressing shock at the charges and hoping the case is a misunderstanding.
The trial is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with intense public and media scrutiny as the nation confronts growing concerns over politically motivated violence.
