A federal judge has sentenced Ryan Routh to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, concluding a case that drew national attention amid heightened concerns about political violence in the United States.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the sentence on Wednesday, siding with prosecutors who argued that Routh showed no remorse and posed a continued danger. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, rejected a request from the defense for a significantly shorter sentence.
Routh was convicted by a jury in September of attempting to assassinate Trump while he was playing golf at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course. During the trial, Routh chose to represent himself, with standby counsel present.
Details of the Assassination Attempt
According to investigators, the incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2024. A U.S. Secret Service agent conducting a routine security sweep noticed a rifle barrel aimed toward Trump. The agent fired several shots at the barrel, prompting Routh to flee the scene in a vehicle.
Authorities later stopped Routh and took him into custody. Investigators said he never fired his weapon and did not have a clear line of sight to Trump. The location where Routh had been hiding was described as a common area for paparazzi attempting to photograph Trump.
A search of the scene and Routh’s vehicle uncovered a rifle with a scope, a camera, two backpacks containing ceramic tiles capable of deflecting bullets, and 17 cellphones.
Trial and Courtroom Disruptions
Prosecutors argued that Routh spent weeks planning the attack and presented evidence of a lengthy online history expressing hostility toward Trump. They also pointed to a self-published book in which Routh encouraged Iran to assassinate Trump and wrote that he bore some responsibility because he had previously voted for him.
The trial was marked by a major disruption shortly after the jury delivered its guilty verdict. Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen, prompting courtroom intervention.
Despite the conviction, Routh did not accept responsibility for his actions, prosecutors said, a key factor in their request for a life sentence.
“Routh remains unrepentant for his crimes, never apologized for the lives he put at risk, and his life demonstrates near-total disregard for law,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
Sentencing Decision and Reaction
During the sentencing phase, Routh requested legal representation after initially representing himself. His attorneys asked Judge Cannon to impose a 27-year sentence, while prosecutors sought life imprisonment. Cannon ultimately adopted the prosecution’s recommendation.
In a filing, Routh proposed trading his life as part of a prisoner swap and reiterated previous statements directed at Trump. Judge Cannon granted his request for counsel but criticized the remainder of the motion.
She described those portions as a “disrespectful charade” and said they made a mockery of the court proceedings.
After the sentence was announced, defense attorney Martin Roth said he planned to appeal. Roth argued that Routh’s statements were intended to discourage political violence rather than promote it.
“It’s harmful to the democratic process,” Roth said. “And I think he was renouncing the thought that a political assassination is ever appropriate.”
Broader Context
The attempted assassination occurred just months after a separate shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one audience member was killed and the gunman was shot by Secret Service agents. The two incidents intensified scrutiny of security measures and renewed debate over political extremism and violence.
