The federal trial of Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old Hawaii resident accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during a golf outing in September 2024, officially began Thursday following three days of jury selection.
In a rare move, Routh is representing himself in court despite having no legal training. His opening statement was quickly cut short by Judge Aileen Cannon after he veered into unrelated topics such as global conflicts and the history of humanity.
The judge ended his remarks and instructed the prosecution to begin presenting its case.
Routh faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms violations. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.
According to prosecutors, Routh allegedly staked out Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course for nearly 12 hours, hiding in the brush with a rifle loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition.
A Secret Service agent spotted the weapon’s barrel protruding from the bushes and opened fire. Routh fled the scene and was arrested shortly after.
Investigators say Routh used multiple aliases, purchased burner phones, and tracked Trump’s movements using encrypted messaging apps.
He reportedly had escape plans involving travel to Mexico and Colombia, and even attempted to acquire military-grade weapons online.
Though Routh once voted for Trump in 2016, court filings reveal a shift in sentiment, with him calling Trump derogatory names and expressing frustration over geopolitical issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The trial is expected to last two to four weeks. Routh’s erratic courtroom behavior and self-representation have already drawn significant attention, with Judge Cannon assigning standby counsel to assist if needed.