Judge Warns Trump Assassination Suspect as Trial Approaches
Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump last year, will represent himself when his federal trial begins next week in Fort Pierce, Florida.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon approved Routh’s request in July to serve as his own lawyer, while keeping court-appointed counsel on standby. During Tuesday’s hearing, Cannon emphasized that strict security would be enforced inside the courtroom.
“If you make any sudden movements, marshals will take decisive and quick action to respond,” she warned.
Jury Selection and Trial Timeline
Jury selection is scheduled for Monday and will likely span three days. Prosecutors and defense will vet three panels of 60 prospective jurors each to seat 12 jurors and four alternates. Opening statements are set for September 11, with prosecutors expected to launch their case immediately. The trial could last up to four weeks, though attorneys believe it may conclude sooner.
Alleged Plot Against President Trump
The case stems from what prosecutors describe as a foiled assassination attempt nearly one year ago. On September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Routh allegedly hid in shrubbery with a rifle, preparing to fire as President Trump played golf. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh, engaged him, and forced him to drop his weapon before he fled. He was later captured.
Federal prosecutors say Routh, 59, spent weeks planning the attack. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms violations. Florida authorities have also charged him with terrorism and attempted murder.
Troubled Background
Routh, originally from North Carolina, has a long record of erratic behavior and brushes with the law. He has portrayed himself as a mercenary leader, even attempting to recruit fighters from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan at the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
His criminal history includes a 2002 arrest in Greensboro, N.C., after barricading himself during a traffic stop with an automatic weapon and an explosive device labeled a “weapon of mass destruction.” He received probation instead of prison time. In 2010, police uncovered more than 100 stolen goods tied to Routh, including kayaks and spa tubs, yet he again avoided incarceration with a suspended sentence.
Bizarre Court Filings
In recent weeks, Routh has submitted a series of unorthodox motions. On September 2, he filed a typewritten motion blasting the government’s late introduction of evidence, calling the move “absurd.”
In exchange for accepting the evidence, Routh proposed subpoenaing President Trump:
“If you would like to trade admitting the evidence for my subpoena of that baboon Donald J. Trump, bring that idiot on; it is a deal,” he wrote.
The motion escalated further, with Routh suggesting a physical confrontation with the President:
“Give me shackles and cuffs and let the old fat man give it his worst. We must beat down crime in America. Carpet is red, isn’t it, no harm in blood.”
He also submitted bizarre personal requests, such as being housed in a “quiet room” with access to a typewriter, email, visitation, “female strippers,” and even a “putting green so I can work on my putting (a golf joke).”
At one point, he suggested settling his case with a golf match against President Trump:
“A round of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me, I win I get his job.”
Judge Cannon’s Oversight
Judge Cannon has yet to rule on these motions but has reaffirmed that Routh will be allowed to represent himself—closely supervised, with standby attorneys ready to step in if proceedings spiral out of control.
The case is expected to capture nationwide attention, not only because of the attempt on the life of a sitting President but also because of Routh’s decision to act as his own counsel and his history of erratic courtroom antics.