A gunman attempted to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. Authorities have identified the suspect as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii, according to media reports from CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, though Reuters has not independently confirmed his identity. The FBI has declined to comment on the case.
Gun Barrel Found in Bushes
Secret Service agents were accompanying Trump on the golf course when one agent spotted the barrel of a gun hidden in the bushes near the property line. Multiple agents confronted the gunman and fired at least four rounds. The suspect dropped an AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera before fleeing the scene in a black Nissan.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that a witness captured a photo of the suspect’s car and license plate, which was quickly handed over to authorities. Deputies in Martin County apprehended the suspect shortly after on Interstate 95.
Social Media Posts on Ukraine and Democracy
Profiles found by Reuters on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn for a Ryan Routh were quickly removed from public view after the incident. The accounts suggested that Routh was a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. In an April 2023 post on X directed at Elon Musk, Routh inquired about purchasing a rocket to target Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea mansion. He wrote: “I would like to buy a rocket from you. I wish to load it with a warhead for Putins Black sea mansion bunker to end him. Can you give me a price please.”
Routh had previously been interviewed by The New York Times in 2023 about his involvement in aiding Ukraine. He claimed to have spent several months in Ukraine in 2022, attempting to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight against Russia. Though he initially sought to fight on the frontlines himself, his application was rejected due to his age and lack of military experience. “A lot of the other conflicts are grey but this conflict is definitely black and white. This is about good versus evil,” Routh said in an interview posted by Newsweek Romania in June 2022. His comments suggested he was in Kyiv at the time.
Political Views and Online Activity
Routh’s social media history reveals that in 2020, he supported Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, while mocking Joe Biden as “sleepy Joe.” Earlier in 2023, he posted on X, tagging Biden and writing: “Trump’s campaign should be called MASA—Make Americans Slaves Again. Democracy is on the ballot, and we cannot lose.”
Family Reaction
When contacted by Reuters, Routh’s son, Adam, expressed shock upon learning of the assassination attempt and said he had no further information. Another son, Oran, described his father as a “loving and caring father” in a statement to CNN but refrained from commenting on the situation in Florida, hoping that things had been “blown out of proportion.”