FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh, the man convicted of an assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in 2024, was sentenced to life in prison, plus 84 months.
Routh was convicted by a jury in September 2025 and found guilty on five separate charges.
What You Need To Know
Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump
Trump was golfing at his West Palm Beach course when Routh was spotted with a rifle
An appeal will be filed according to Routh’s defense attorney
According to information from the U.S. Department of Justice, Trump was golfing at Trump International on Sept. 15, 2024, when a Secret Service agent conducting a perimeter security sweep saw the partially obscured face of a man — later identified as Routh — in the brush along the fence line near the sixth hole. The agent observed the barrel of a rifle aimed directly at him. As the agent began backing away, he saw the rifle barrel move, and the agent fired at Routh.
A witness reported seeing Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black SUV. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95, a DOJ statement said.
The trial, which lasted nearly two weeks, ended in dramatic fashion as Routh attempted to stab himself with a pen while the guilty verdict was read.
Routh represented himself during his trial. However, he requested an attorney for his sentencing.
After the sentence was handed down Wednesday, Routh was allowed to speak and said the sentence meant nothing. He then spent several minutes asking to switch places with foreign prisoners.
“He has consequences to pay, and this was his day to say everything and get it off his chest. I didn’t want to put any limitations on him,” said his attorney, Martin Roth.
He said Routh is a complex person but has a good core.
Judge Aileen Cannon, the same judge that oversaw the trial, said life in prison was reasonable since the assassination attempt was deliberate and evil.
Martin County’s sheriff, John Budensiek, said Routh tried to portray himself as a “do-gooder” and a “victim.”
“I think Judge Cannon said it best, she said the evil is in you Mr. Routh, the evil is you, you are the one that was trying to kill the president of the United States, former and then to-be president of the United States, the evil is in you. I think that kind of encapsulates all that has taken place here today,” he said.
A former prosecutor for the Middle District of Florida said the process now begins to determine where Routh will serve the sentence.
“That usually takes a month or two before that designation is done,” said Roger Handberg. “So usually a defendant will stay in local custody, and then once that designation happens they will get transported to that facility.”
Routh’s defense attorney said an appeal will be filed.