According to The Epoch Times, Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man from Hawaii, has been identified as the suspect in an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. Routh has been charged with two federal counts—possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. During his court appearance, Routh stated that he has no significant assets except for trucks worth around $1,000 and earns approximately $3,000 per month. He is currently being represented by a public defender and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 23.
Routh’s social media posts indicate that he expressed support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders as well as former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. However, his opinion of Trump seemed to have soured over time based on his online statements. In one post after the first assassination attempt targeting Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh speculated that the former president would not visit the survivors in the hospital and urged President Joe Biden to do so instead.
Records show that Routh had previously lived in North Carolina before moving to Hawaii in 2018. He registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina and made small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 through ActBlue—a political action committee supporting Democratic candidates.
Routh had multiple encounters with law enforcement throughout the years and was convicted of possessing a weapon of mass destruction in 2002. He also left behind an extensive social media history where he expressed support for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.
The New York Times reported interviewing Routh back in 2023 regarding Americans volunteering to help Ukraine’s war effort. CBS News also spoke with him multiple times about recruiting soldiers for Ukraine.
During Sunday’s incident at the golf course, Secret Service agents engaged with Routh before he fled the scene. Authorities later discovered an AK-style rifle, GoPro camera, and backpacks near the golf course’s fence.
Routh was eventually arrested by Martin County Sheriff’s Office on Interstate 95 without incident or resistance.
Routh’s son spoke out about his father following his arrest stating that he is “a loving and caring father” who isn’t prone to violence.
