On Sunday, an alarming incident unfolded at the Trump International Golf Course in Florida, where Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Law enforcement officials allege that Ryan Wesley Routh, armed with an SKS-style rifle, positioned himself in a bush-covered area near the golf course.
The situation escalated when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel protruding from the bushes and fired in that direction. Ryan Wesley Routh reportedly fled the scene without discharging his weapon. Importantly, it is believed that he never had a clear line of sight to Trump during the incident. The FBI later recovered the rifle, scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera from the area where Ryan Wesley Routh had been hiding.
The Arrest and Charges
Following the incident, a swift law enforcement response led to Routh’s arrest. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that two officers identified Ryan Wesley Routh’s vehicle, a black Nissan SUV, and pursued it for approximately 45 minutes. The chase concluded on Interstate 95, where Routh was apprehended.
Currently, Ryan Wesley Routh faces initial charges of federal firearms offenses. The affidavit states that his phone was in the vicinity of the covered area for 12 hours, suggesting premeditation. Adding to the complexity of the case, authorities later discovered that the number plates on Ryan Wesley Routh’s Nissan SUV belonged to a 2012 Ford that had been reported stolen, potentially implicating him in additional crimes.
Ryan Wesley Routh’s Background and Political Affiliations
Ryan Wesley Routh’s background presents a complex political profile. Originally from North Carolina, where he spent most of his life, Routh had recently been residing in Hawaii. His voting record indicates a shift in political allegiance over time. While he reportedly voted for Trump in 2016, he later expressed disillusionment with the former president.
Ryan Wesley Routh’s political activities include small donations totaling around $140 to ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising organization, in 2019 and 2020. His vehicle in Hawaii displayed a Biden-Harris campaign sticker, further suggesting a shift towards Democratic support. However, his political affiliations appear fluid, as he has also expressed support for various candidates across party lines, including former Republican presidential hopefuls Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.
Ukraine Connection and Social Media Presence
A significant aspect of Ryan Wesley Routh’s recent history involves his attempts to engage with the conflict in Ukraine. He repeatedly claimed on social media to be working on recruiting foreign fighters for Ukraine’s cause against Russia. However, the International Legion in Ukraine rejected Ryan Wesley Routh in 2022 due to his lack of combat experience, and a volunteer described him as a “chaotic presence” during his brief time in the country.
Ryan Wesley Routh’s social media profiles reveal a range of political views, including pro-Palestinian, pro-Taiwan, and anti-China sentiments. He made controversial claims about Chinese “biological warfare” and referred to the Covid-19 virus as an “attack.” In a self-published book from February 2023, Routh expressed frustration with his experiences in Ukraine and, alarmingly, included a passage encouraging Iranian officials to assassinate Trump.
Criminal History and Family Response
Ryan Wesley Routh’s legal troubles extend back to the 1990s, encompassing various felonies and misdemeanors. Notably, in 2002, he was charged with possession of a fully automatic machine gun, referred to in court filings as a “weapon of mass destruction.” This incident involved a three-hour standoff with police in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Despite his troubled past, Wesley Routh’s eldest son, Oran, described him to CNN as “a loving and caring father, and honest hardworking man.” Oran expressed hope that the situation in Florida had been “blown out of proportion,” stating that violent actions seemed out of character for the father he knew. As the investigation continues, the FBI is seeking interviews with friends and family members in North Carolina and Hawaii to gain a fuller understanding of Ryan Wesley Routh’s background and motivations.
