A pro-Ukraine activist, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been convicted of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump during his 2024 election campaign. The incident unfolded in September 2025 when Routh established a sniper’s hide at Trump’s Florida golf course. The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that the attack was uncovered by Secret Service agents, who intervened to stop the potential threat. Routh was later apprehended while fleeing the scene in his car, with authorities discovering multiple mobile phones and a list of overseas flights in possession. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the DOJ’s dedication to holding individuals accountable for political violence, calling the incident an affront to the nation. Routh faces life imprisonment after being convicted of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and other charges.
The prosecution provided evidence from Routh’s case documents, including messages where he expressed his intent to acquire a rocket launcher from a Ukrainian associate. In one message, Routh stated, “I need equipment so that Trump don’t [sic] get elected,” adding that such weapons are “lost and destroyed daily — one missing would not be noticed.” This reflects a broader context of political tensions, as Routh’s actions followed another assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, two months earlier. In that incident, Thomas Crooks fired shots at the presidential candidate, grazing his ear and killing a spectator, before being killed by a Secret Service sniper. These events underscore the heightened risks and security challenges faced by prominent political figures, further emphasizing the seriousness of these convictions in the ongoing discourse on political violence and national security.