Who is alleged Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh?
Alleged Trump gunman Ryan Wesley Routh politically active in person and online
Alleged Trump gunman, Ryan Wesley Routh previously declared on social media “Democracy is on the ballot” this year. He also said “we cannot lose” — echoing the anti-Trump rhetoric used by Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden.
Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58.
Ryan Routh, who has a lengthy criminal record from North Carolina, frequently posted about politics. He exclusively donated to Democratic candidates and causes dating back to 2019.
He also bashed Trump in an April 22 post on X in which he declared, “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose.”
🚨BREAKING: Ryan Wesley Routh, who tried to kill President Trump was connected to Rep Adam Kinzinger through his support and fight for Ukraine.
Heavily brainwashed Dem!
0-2! Trump Won! Ryan Routh didn’t kill himself!#TrumpAssassinationAttempt #trumpassassinationattempt2 pic.twitter.com/1QGeWCGkF3
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) September 15, 2024
Routh’s politics
Routh advised Biden, 81, in an April 22 X post when he was still running for reelection, to run a campaign around keeping “America democratic and free.”
He claimed Trump wants to “make Americans slaves against master.”
“DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose,” he wrote, a similar slogan commonly used by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We cannot afford to fail,” Ryan Routh continued. “The world is counting on us to show the way.”
This is similar to language that Harris continues to use on the campaign trail. On Aug. 29, Harris says at a rally in Savannah, Ga., “We are fighting for our democracy.”
On July 31, she said at an event in Houston that “our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot and so is our democracy” — after using identical wording at a sorority event the same day.
Tom Fitton, president of the conservative legal group Judicial Watch, told The Post: “It is no coincidence that Routh repeated Kamala’s and Joe’s extremist rhetoric against Trump. At this point it is inexcusable incitement.”
Spokespeople for Biden and Harris did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ryan Routh’s Alleged Social Media Posts About Trump Surface After Golf Course Shooting#RyanRouth #DonaldTrump https://t.co/jZqrwx2nzg
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 16, 2024
Response to the assassination
Following the Trump assassination attempt in July where the GOP nominee was wounded in the ear, Ryan Routh tweeted at Biden that he should visit the victims of the Pennsylvania rally where Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire and attend the funeral of the 50-year-old volunteer firefighters who was killed.
“You should visit the victims in the hospital of the trump rally victims and attend the funeral of the fireman that died; Trump certainly never would. SHOW THE WORLD WHAT REAL LEADERS DO,” he posted on July 16.
He also tweeted at Trump in June 2020 that while he supported the Republican in 2016, he was left disappointed by his tenure in the Oval Office.
“I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointment and it seems you are getting worse and devolving; are you retarded; I will be glad when you gone,” he wrote.
Ryan Routh chipped in money for Democrats running for office and liberal causes since 2019.
Between September of that year and March 2020, he contributed more than $140 on the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show.
The records did not list an employer.
His LinkedIn shows that he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, but relocated to Hawaii sometime around 2018.
Routh describes on LinkedIn as “mechanically minded” and enjoying “ideas and invention and creative projects with artistic flair.”
BREAKING: Ryan Wesley Routh’s son says his father hates Donald Trump like “all reasonable people.”
Oran Routh tells the Daily Mail his father is not a violent person and didn’t believe he owned a firearm.
“This was the first I heard about it,” he told the Daily Mail.
Oran said… pic.twitter.com/vIoQz2xkcZ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 16, 2024
Routh’s assassination attempt
The Secret Service agents identified Routh near the Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach with a Soviet-style SKS assault rifle, according to sources.
The agents opened fire on him, but he fled. Routh was later arrested on I-95 by local police.
His social media account contains nonsensical tweets and replies voicing strong support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and Taiwan in its struggle against China.
One reply to X’s owner Elon Musk seemed to entertain purchasing a rocket from the billionaire.
“I would like to buy a rocket from you. I wish to load it with a warhead for Putin’s Black Sea mansion bunker to end him. Can you give me a price please. It can be old and used as not returning,” Routh wrote.
Opinion on Russia-Ukraine war
He claimed on X he tried to “sell” the idea of having former Afghanistan troopers fight for Ukraine in Russia. However, he was denied multiple times before giving up after six months.
Ryan Routh also said that he visited Kyiv and claimed that he would be willing to fight on the frontlines, if he were permitted to.
In a 2022 interview, Routh, wearing an American flag-style shirt, spoke about recruiting others to fight in Kyiv.
“The question as far as why I’m here. To me, a lot of the other conflicts are gray but this conflict is definitely black and white,” he said. “This is about good versus evil.”
“We need thousands and thousands and thousands of people here fighting with Ukrainians,” he added.
In an interview with Semafor, Routh expressed frustration with Ukrainians.
“Ukraine is very often hard to work with,” he said. “Many foreign soldiers leave after a week in Ukraine or must move from unit to unit to find a place they are respected and appreciated,”
Routh was a supporter of Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, according to one of his posts in which he encouraged the Republican presidential candidates.
“You cannot quit. Why. You must stay on the ballot to the end. You must fight. You must continue giving speeches and push all the way to election day no matter the election results. Do not give in. Join Nikki and keep working. Never give up,” he wrote to Ramaswamy.
What Other Media Are Saying
- CBS News reports Ryan Wesley Routh’s alleged assassination attempt on Trump raises serious security concerns. His criminal history and erratic behavior suggests deeper issues. (Read more)
- Los Angeles Times recounted how Routh’s disillusionment with politics and past military aspirations complicate the narrative. His social media posts reveal a conflicted individual, reflecting broader societal frustrations amidst rising political tensions. (Read more)
- BBC News reports how the attempted assassination on Trump underscores a troubling trend in political violence. Routh’s calm demeanor during arrest contrasts sharply with the gravity of his actions, prompting urgent discussions on security protocols. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is a North Carolina native with a criminal record who frequently posts anti-Trump rhetoric online.
What did Ryan Routh say about Trump on social media?
Routh criticises Trump in several posts, accusing him of trying to make Americans “slaves against master” and expressing disappointment in his presidency.
What was Ryan Routh doing near Trump’s golf club?
Routh was found near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach with a Soviet-style SKS assault rifle before fleeing and later being arrested on I-95.
What are Ryan Routh’s political views?
Routh has consistently supported Democratic candidates and causes since 2019, and he has expressed strong opinions about democracy, Ukraine, and against Trump.
Did Ryan Routh have any involvement with the Ukraine war?
Routh claimed to have visited Kyiv, expressed willingness to fight on the frontlines, and recruited foreign soldiers to join the conflict against Russia.
