Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in 2024, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Routh was found guilty in September on five counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, following a turbulent trial in which he represented himself and was repeatedly admonished by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence and have asked the court to apply a terrorism enhancement, a move Routh is expected to challenge during the sentencing hearing.
Routh’s attorney, Martin Roth, said his client intends to speak in court. “He’s his own man, he doesn’t follow the advice that lawyers give him,” Roth said, adding that Routh’s remarks would be “unusual” and only partially related to the case.
In court filings, prosecutors argued that Routh’s actions warranted the maximum punishment, citing evidence that he spent months planning the attack and showed no remorse. They said he demonstrated a willingness to kill anyone who stood in his way.
Trial evidence showed that Routh spent weeks near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course and Mar-a-Lago residence. Investigators recovered burner phones containing searches such as “Trump’s upcoming rallies” and “Palm Beach traffic cameras.”
Authorities also found a handwritten letter in which Routh admitted to the plot and offered a $150,000 reward to anyone who would complete the assassination. Investigators said there was no evidence he had access to such funds.
On Sept. 15, 2024, Routh allegedly positioned himself near the sixth hole of Trump’s golf course, armed with an old Soviet-style rifle and protected by armored plates hung along a fence. Trump was playing golf one hole away.
A Secret Service agent conducting a security sweep spotted the rifle barrel protruding through a chain-link fence and fired shots after the weapon was pointed at him, alerting other agents.
Routh fled but was later identified after a civilian witness, Tommy McGee, reported the suspect’s vehicle and license plate to authorities. McGee later testified that Routh praised him during cross-examination.
Additional evidence showed Routh had planned an escape, with online searches including “Directions to Miami airport” and “flights to Mexico.”
Throughout the trial, Routh frequently strayed from legal arguments, prompting repeated interruptions from Judge Cannon. In closing arguments, he claimed the assassination “was never going to happen” and argued that without shots fired, it did not constitute an attempt.
The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning a guilty verdict. After the verdict was read, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen and was restrained by U.S. marshals as his daughter cried out in the courtroom.
