WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole on February 4, 2026, for attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during an incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who presided over the case in the Southern District of Florida, imposed the maximum sentence following Routh’s conviction on all counts in late 2025. In a detailed sentencing memorandum, Judge Cannon wrote that Routh’s crimes “undeniably warrant a life sentence.”
“[H]e took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major Presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,” the judge stated. She emphasized the premeditated nature of the plot, Routh’s willingness to use lethal force, and his complete lack of remorse throughout the legal proceedings.
The incident occurred on September 15, 2024, when a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of an SKS-style semiautomatic rifle with a scope protruding from bushes along the golf course perimeter. The agent fired several rounds toward the suspect, who fled the scene on foot. Routh was apprehended shortly afterward on a nearby road by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies after a brief chase.
Federal agents recovered the rifle—loaded with an extended magazine—from the hiding spot. Prosecutors presented evidence that Routh had positioned himself approximately 300–500 yards from where Trump was playing golf, though he never obtained a clear line of sight to the former president. Investigators also discovered a handwritten note addressed to a friend in which Routh described the episode as “an assassination attempt” and left behind a list of locations where he anticipated Trump might appear.
Routh, a native of North Carolina who had been living in Hawaii, was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pleaded not guilty and chose to represent himself during the trial, which began on September 8, 2025.
Throughout the proceedings, Routh exhibited highly erratic behavior. He challenged Trump to a game of golf from the witness stand, made references to Adolf Hitler and Russian President Vladimir Putin, spoke in the third person during his closing argument, and veered into unrelated topics including U.S. history, the Russia-Ukraine war, and his desire to purchase a boat. Judge Cannon repeatedly interrupted him and sent the jury out of the courtroom during these outbursts.
After the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen in open court. U.S. Marshals quickly restrained him and removed him from the courtroom.
Lead prosecutor John Shipley described the evidence as a “mountain” pointing to how close Routh came to carrying out the act. “This was not a spontaneous act,” Shipley said. “This defendant planned, prepared, and positioned himself with lethal intent over an extended period.”
Routh’s standby counsel, Martin Ross, confirmed that the defense intends to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, citing concerns over Routh’s competency to represent himself and the handling of his mental state during trial.
The West Palm Beach incident was the second known assassination attempt on Trump in 2024. On July 13, 2024, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear, killing one spectator, Corey Comperatore, and injuring several others. Crooks was killed by Secret Service counter-snipers at the scene.
The Florida case drew widespread attention due to the security implications for high-profile political figures and the repeated breaches of Secret Service protection protocols. Following the two incidents, the Secret Service implemented enhanced security measures, including expanded perimeter coverage at Trump properties and increased coordination with local law enforcement.
Routh had no prior history of direct interaction with Trump or his campaign. Prosecutors argued that his motivation stemmed from a mix of political grievances and personal fixation, though he never clearly articulated a coherent motive during the trial.
The life sentence reflects the gravity of the offense under federal law, which carries a mandatory minimum of life imprisonment for attempted assassination of a major presidential or vice-presidential candidate. Judge Cannon’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s view that such acts represent an existential threat to democratic processes and public safety.
The Department of Justice and Secret Service hailed the outcome as a decisive affirmation of the justice system’s ability to respond swiftly and firmly to threats against national leaders.
Routh will serve his sentence in a federal Bureau of Prisons facility, with appeals expected to be filed in the coming weeks.
