A U.S. court has handed down a life sentence to Ryan Routh after he was found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, closing a case that drew strong attention across the country.
The sentencing took place on Wednesday in Fort Pierce, Florida, where U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Routh would spend the rest of his life in prison following his conviction on five serious criminal charges.
The incident happened on September 15, 2024, just weeks before the presidential election that later returned Trump to office.
Investigators told the court that Routh had hidden for nearly ten hours in thick bushes near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Secret Service agents eventually spotted him a short distance from where Trump was golfing. He ran away but left behind a semi automatic rifle, metal plates similar to body armour, and a video camera aimed at the golf course. Authorities arrested him later after launching a search.
Prosecutors said the attack was carefully planned. Evidence showed that Routh carried six cellphones, used fake names, and followed Trump’s public movements for weeks after arriving in South Florida.
United States President Donald Trump. Photo Courtesy
During sentencing, Judge Cannon said the actions showed a clear and calculated plan to take a life.
Routh chose to represent himself in court after dismissing his lawyers, even though he had no legal training. He pleaded not guilty and later argued that the jury misunderstood the case because he could not defend himself properly. After the guilty verdict, he caused a disturbance in court and had to be restrained by security officers.
While addressing the court before sentencing, Routh gave a long and disorganised speech about world conflicts and said his punishment did not matter to him. Prosecutors asked for a life sentence, pointing to his long criminal history that included dozens of past convictions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ruling ensured he would never be released. Trump also reacted publicly, saying justice had been served. The case marked the second assassination attempt against Trump in 2024.
