A man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course was charged with two gun-related offenses on Monday. The suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, was allegedly spotted hiding in the bushes with a rifle while Trump was nearby. Though Routh did not fire any shots and did not have Trump in his line of sight, the incident has raised concerns about security given a recent similar event in July.
Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe reported that Trump’s visit to the West Palm Beach course was not on his public schedule, making it unclear if Routh was aware of Trump’s presence. The Secret Service responded after an agent saw a rifle barrel from the bushes, leading to shots being fired into the air to neutralize the threat.
Trump recounted the incident during an event on X Spaces, saying, “All of a sudden we heard shots being fired in the air. I guess probably four or five. Secret Service knew immediately it was bullets, and they grabbed me. … We got into the carts and we moved along pretty, pretty good. I was with an agent, and the agent did a fantastic job.” He also noted, “We do need more people on my detail.”
The suspect fled in an SUV, leaving behind a loaded assault-style rifle, a digital camera, and a plastic bag of food. Routh was apprehended about 40 minutes later on Interstate 95, with a stolen license plate on his vehicle. Investigators found that Routh’s phone was at the golf course well before the incident.
Routh made a brief appearance in federal court in West Palm Beach, facing charges of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional charges may follow. Routh declined to speak to investigators, invoking his right to an attorney. His previous convictions include possession of an unregistered fully automatic gun in 2002 and possession of stolen goods in 2010.
Trump’s campaign schedule remains unchanged despite the recent security incident. He has attributed the assassination attempt to inflammatory rhetoric from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, though authorities have not confirmed a motive linked to political figures.
Trump stated, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country – both from the inside and out,” as reported by Fox. This comes amid ongoing criticisms from Democrats who label Trump as a threat to democracy, citing his refusal to concede the 2020 election and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Both Biden and Harris have condemned the attack. Biden spoke with Trump, expressing relief that he is safe, and Trump described the call as a “very nice call.” The Secret Service, already under scrutiny following a previous attack on Trump, is facing increased pressure to improve security. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Congress will investigate the latest incident, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Routh, the suspect, had previously supported Ukraine and sought to recruit foreign fighters after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Ukrainian officials have distanced themselves from him, and the International Legion stated it had no connection to Routh. Meanwhile, Harris has pledged continued support for Ukraine, while Trump has expressed skepticism about U.S. aid and proposed potential territorial concessions for peace.
