Trial Begins for Trump Assassination Attempt

The trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, began Thursday.

The alleged assassination attempt occurred on September 15, 2024, while Trump was golfing at his West Palm Beach club during his presidential campaign. It marked the second apparent attempt on Trump's life that year, following the July incident in Pennsylvania, where a gunman wounded Trump's ear at a campaign rally and killed a supporter.

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon stopped Routh's opening statement after just a few minutes when the 59-year-old defendant, who is representing himself, began discussing topics including the origin of the human species, the American West's settlement, and international conflicts.

"This case means absolutely nothing," Routh told the jury, prompting Cannon to send jurors out of the courtroom. The judge had earlier warned she had limited patience for arguments that would "make a mockery of the dignity of the courtroom."

Prosecutors said Routh hid with a rifle near the sixth hole at Trump International Golf Club, intending to kill Trump as he played. A Secret Service agent, who spotted Routh and the rifle barrel poking through the fence, opened fire, causing Routh to flee without firing a shot. He was arrested the same afternoon on a Florida highway. "Last year, the defendant Ryan Routh wanted to make sure that the people of this country could not elect Donald Trump as president of the United States," prosecutor John Shipley said in his opening statement. "So the defendant decided to take the choice away from American voters."

Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks planning the attack, traveling from Hawaii to North Carolina and then to Florida with six cell phones and stolen license plates. He stayed at a truck stop for about a month, visiting the golf course approximately 17 times while tracking Trump's movements. Authorities discovered an SKS semi-automatic rifle where Routh had been hiding at the golf course. Authorities also discovered a note Routh allegedly left at a friend's house that read, "Dear World, This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you." At his arraignment, Routh pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, and could receive life in prison if convicted. The trial is expected to last two to four weeks.