Trump murder plot/ Trump attack plan/ Trump assassination plot/ attempted killing of Trump/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A man accused of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump left a note expressing his intent to kill the former president. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after being spotted with a rifle near Trump’s golf course. Prosecutors claim Routh had premeditated the attack, keeping a list of Trump’s appearances and traveling to Florida with harmful intent.
Assassination Plot on Trump: Quick Looks
- Note of Intent: Routh left a note expressing his plan to kill Trump, including a monetary reward for others to finish the job.
- Premeditated Plan: Routh traveled from North Carolina to Florida, scouting Trump’s locations multiple times.
- Secret Service Thwarts Attack: An agent spotted Routh with a rifle near Trump’s golf course, leading to his arrest.
- Evidence Found: Authorities discovered cellphones, venue dates of Trump appearances, and notes criticizing foreign governments.
- Charges and Investigation: Routh faces firearm possession charges, and more severe charges may follow.
Assassination Attempt on Trump: Suspect Left Chilling Note
Deep Look
A man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump was arrested after being spotted with a rifle near a Florida golf course where Trump was playing, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors revealed that the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, had left a note indicating his intent to kill Trump, and had a detailed list of the former president’s future appearances.
The Justice Department provided new details on Monday in a detention memo, urging that Routh be held in custody as the case proceeds. According to the memo, Routh poses a significant public threat due to what officials describe as a premeditated plot to assassinate Trump. The plot, however, was thwarted by a vigilant Secret Service agent who noticed the rifle in the bushes of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was present.
Months before his arrest, Routh reportedly left a box at an unidentified individual’s home. The box, which wasn’t opened until after Routh’s arrest, contained a range of suspicious items, including ammunition, metal pipes, tools, and phones. Among the contents was a note addressed to “Dear World,” where Routh expressed regret over the failed assassination attempt. In this letter, he claimed to have done his best to kill Trump and even offered a $150,000 reward to anyone who could finish the job.
Prosecutors did not identify the person who received the box but confirmed that the individual contacted law enforcement upon discovering its contents. Routh’s ominous letter suggested that he had anticipated failure and sought to inspire others to complete his deadly objective.
The Justice Department also cited evidence of Routh’s movements in the weeks leading up to the incident. Cellphone data showed that Routh had traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Florida in mid-August. He was spotted near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and golf club several times between August and the day of the attempted attack.
Routh was arrested on a Sunday afternoon after a Secret Service agent, conducting a routine security check, noticed a man partially hidden in the bushes with a semiautomatic rifle aimed in the agent’s direction. The agent opened fire on Routh, who fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement in a nearby county. Despite the apparent attempt, the Secret Service confirmed that Routh did not fire any shots, and Trump was never in his direct line of sight.
Additional evidence collected during the investigation further underscored the seriousness of Routh’s plans. Authorities found six cellphones in his car, including one that displayed a Google search on how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico. Investigators also recovered a list of dates and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to appear, highlighting Routh’s methodical approach.
A notebook in Routh’s possession revealed his strong political opinions, including criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments. He also made notes on how to join the ongoing war in Ukraine, pointing to a possible desire to act on these political convictions.
Further scrutiny of Routh’s background revealed that he had authored a book last year in which he condemned Trump’s foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine. In the book, Routh suggested that Iran had the right to assassinate Trump over the decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal.
In addition to the ongoing investigation, Routh is currently charged with illegal firearm possession. His criminal record includes multiple felony convictions, such as the possession of stolen goods in North Carolina in 2002. Authorities are now weighing more serious charges, which could be brought against Routh in the coming weeks as the case unfolds.
