On September 15, 2024, Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old resident of Hawaii, was arrested after an attempted assassination on Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. This incident marked the second assassination attempt on Trump in two months, further heightening concerns around the former president’s security, particularly in light of his 2024 bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Routh’s arrest occurred after Secret Service agents, securing the course for Trump’s round of golf, noticed the muzzle of an AK-47-style rifle poking through the bushes near a fence that separated the course from its outer perimeter. In response, agents fired at Routh, who fled the scene. Law enforcement pursued Routh’s black Nissan SUV, and he was eventually apprehended on Interstate 95 by deputies from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The weapon, along with two backpacks and a GoPro camera, was found abandoned near the golf course. The rifle’s serial number had been obliterated, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
Routh’s Background and Political Evolution
While Routh is a native of North Carolina, he had lived in Hawaii since 2017, where he ran a small construction business. He reportedly built simple housing structures, often aimed at helping alleviate Hawaii’s homelessness crisis. His LinkedIn profile reflected a community-focused individual, yet Routh’s past paints a much more complicated picture.
Routh’s criminal record stretches back several decades, including a 2002 arrest in North Carolina where he barricaded himself during a standoff with police after fleeing a traffic stop. He was convicted of felony possession of a machine gun and a range of other offenses over the years, including theft and drug-related charges.
Politically, Routh’s views evolved significantly over time. In 2016, he supported Donald Trump, casting his vote for the real estate mogul in the presidential election. However, his enthusiasm for Trump quickly turned into frustration and disillusionment. Routh criticized Trump harshly, particularly following the January 6 Capitol riot and the former president’s decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. These events seemed to ignite a growing disdain for Trump, which Routh expressed on social media and in a self-published book titled Ukraine’s Unwinnable War. In the book, Routh lambasted Trump as a “fool” and even called on Iran to assassinate him, reflecting his extreme shift from earlier support.
His Support for Ukraine and Disdain for Trump
A large part of Routh’s disillusionment with Trump was centered on Ukraine. Routh had been a vocal advocate for the Ukrainian cause, particularly after Russia’s 2022 invasion. He traveled to Kyiv in 2022 and appeared at several rallies advocating for international support for Ukraine. Routh even tried, unsuccessfully, to recruit Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban to fight alongside Ukrainian forces.
While Routh’s passion for Ukraine appeared genuine, his political beliefs became more erratic in recent years. His social media profiles showed a man veering from far-left to far-right ideologies, sometimes supporting figures like Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard while also mocking President Joe Biden and voicing support for Republican figures like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Despite his history of voting for Democrats, including in North Carolina’s Democratic primary in 2024, Routh’s shifting political affiliations made it difficult to categorize him strictly within one political ideology.
In one of his posts from June 2020, Routh said that Trump could win reelection if he took drastic action to address police misconduct following the murder of George Floyd. However, by 2024, he had fully turned against Trump, particularly criticizing the former president’s ambiguous stance on Ukraine during his presidential campaign. When asked whether Ukraine should win its war against Russia, Trump notably refused to take a clear position, a stance that likely contributed to Routh’s radicalization.
Routh’s Family and Community Perception
Routh’s arrest and the attempted assassination of Trump have shocked his family, particularly his son, Oran Routh. In interviews with CNN, Oran described his father as a “loving and caring” man who was passionate about his causes, particularly Ukraine. Oran emphasized that he had no knowledge of what may have motivated his father’s alleged actions and expressed disbelief that his father would be involved in something so extreme. Another of Routh’s sons, Adam, was similarly caught off guard by the arrest, stating that it was not something he believed his father would do.
Routh’s neighbors in Hawaii echoed these sentiments, describing him as cordial and respectful, though somewhat reclusive. He had worked on community projects, including building housing for the homeless, but kept mostly to himself in recent years.
Political Rhetoric and Implications of the Attempted Assassination
Routh’s attempted assassination of Trump has sparked discussions about the role of heated political rhetoric in fueling violence. While there is no clear evidence that Routh was directly motivated by any single political figure or event, his online activity suggests he was deeply immersed in the political discourse surrounding Trump, Ukraine, and broader geopolitical issues. His disdain for Trump, combined with his frustration over the United States’ stance on Ukraine, seemed to have contributed to his radicalization.
Democratic and Republican leaders alike have condemned the assassination attempt. Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement expressing relief that Trump was unharmed, while also emphasizing that “violence has no place in America.” President Joe Biden, who was asked about the incident, stated that the Secret Service “needs more help” and stressed the importance of protecting all political candidates during the volatile 2024 election cycle.
As for Routh, he faces federal charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. The investigation remains ongoing, with more charges possible in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
Ryan Wesley Routh’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by political radicalization, regardless of its origins. His transformation from a Trump supporter to a would-be assassin underscores the volatility of modern political discourse, exacerbated by the rise of misinformation and ideological extremes. As authorities continue to investigate Routh’s motives, the incident serves as a somber warning about the escalating tensions in American politics and the need for measured dialogue moving forward.
