Liputan6.com, Jakarta On September 23, 2025, a federal jury found 59-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh guilty of all charges related to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The incident occurred while Trump was still a presidential candidate at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.
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Routh was charged with five serious federal charges, including attempted assassination of a leading presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer.
The jury's verdict came after only about two hours of deliberation, reflecting the strength of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
After the verdict was read, Routh reportedly attempted to injure himself in the courtroom, by stabbing a pencil into his neck, but was prevented by the US Marshal.
He now faces life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 18, 2025.
Attempted Assassination Incident on a Golf Course
The attempted assassination of Ryan Routh occurred on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Routh allegedly planned the attack for weeks, including 17 reconnaissance trips to the golf course to monitor Donald Trump's movements.
On the day of the attack, Routh was seen hiding in the bushes with a semi-automatic rifle as Trump's golf party approached.
A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump was in danger, and the agent fired a shot at Routh.
Routh was apprehended on Interstate 95 in Martin County shortly after the incident.
Ryan Routh's Indictment and Trial
Ryan Routh faces five very serious federal charges for his actions.
The charges included attempted murder of a major presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, assault on a federal officer (Secret Service agent Robert Fercano), misdemeanor possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.
Routh pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Routh's trial began on September 8, 2025, with him defending himself, despite the judge's recommendation to appoint a backup attorney.
Prosecutors presented 38 witnesses over seven days to build their case.
By comparison, Routh called only three witnesses in his own defense: a firearms expert and two character witnesses who he admitted had not seen or spoken to in years.
The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, took only about two hours to reach a guilty verdict on all charges.
For the charges against him, Ryan Routh now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Routh attempted to harm himself after the verdict was read, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.
He reportedly tried to stab himself with a pen before US marshals intervened.
In a social media post immediately after the verdict, Trump thanked law enforcement officers and a witness who provided information that led to Routh's arrest.
Trump said of Routh: "This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him. A very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA!".
Ryan Routh's Criminal Background
Ryan Routh, originally from North Carolina and later living in Hawaii, has a history of involvement in international conflicts and previous legal troubles.
He was arrested in 2002 in Greensboro, North Carolina, for evading a traffic stop and barricading himself against officers with an automatic machine gun and a "weapon of mass destruction" that turned out to be an explosive.
In 2010, Routh was also convicted of possession of stolen property after police found more than 100 stolen items in his warehouse.
He has also faced charges related to firearm possession, resisting an officer, driving with a revoked license, driving without a license, carrying a concealed weapon, and hit-and-run.
Before the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Ryan Routh had more than 100 criminal charges filed against him throughout his lifetime and had been arrested at least eight times.
In addition to the federal charges, Routh also faces state charges of terrorism and attempted murder, to which he has also pleaded not guilty.