A man found guilty of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course in September 2024, just weeks before the U.S. presidential election, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ryan Routh, 59, was convicted in September for attempting to kill then-presidential candidate Trump, marking the second assassination attempt against the billionaire politician in the tense months leading up to the election that ultimately returned him to the White House.
An AFP journalist present in court reported that Judge Aileen Cannon imposed a sentence of life imprisonment plus an additional seven years after a 90-minute hearing. She said the sentence was necessary “to protect the public from future crime” committed by Routh.
Addressing the convict directly, the judge said, “The evil is in you. Not in everybody else.”
Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, after a U.S. Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of a rifle protruding from bushes along the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course, where Trump was playing golf ahead of the November election. The agent fired at the suspect, prompting Routh to flee the scene in a vehicle before he was apprehended a short time later.
The sentencing brought to an end a highly unusual trial in which Routh chose to represent himself despite having no formal legal training. His conduct during the proceedings drew attention, with reports that he made several bizarre requests while in custody.
Among them were demands for strippers and a golf putting green to help him prepare for trial. He also asked that jurors be selected based on their views on the Gaza conflict and Trump’s publicly stated interest in purchasing Greenland. All of the requests were dismissed by the court.
The failed Florida plot came only two months after another attempt on Trump’s life. On July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Matthew Crooks fired multiple shots at the Republican candidate, with one bullet grazing Trump’s right ear.
That incident resulted in the death of a rally attendee and became a defining moment in Trump’s successful return to political power. Crooks was shot dead at the scene by security operatives, and authorities have said his motive remains unclear.
What you should know
Ryan Routh’s conviction and sentencing underscore the heightened security threats surrounding President Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign, which saw two separate assassination attempts within months.
The Florida golf course plot highlighted the role of the U.S. Secret Service in averting attacks, while the Pennsylvania rally shooting became a pivotal moment that reshaped the political narrative of the election and intensified national security concerns around campaign events.
