On September 23, 2025, a Florida courtroom became the scene of high drama when Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old construction worker convicted of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, tried to harm himself with a pen right after hearing the guilty verdict. This shocking moment capped off a two-week trial filled with bizarre antics and serious allegations, highlighting the intense emotions surrounding political violence in America. Routh, who represented himself despite lacking any legal background, now faces up to life in prison for his failed plot at Trump’s golf course.
The Dramatic Self-Harm Attempt
The chaos erupted as jurors were leaving the courtroom following their quick deliberation. According to reports, “Routh took a pen and started trying to jab himself in the neck.” Courtroom marshals acted swiftly, dragging him out of the room to prevent further injury. His daughter, Sara Routh, who was in the audience, cried out in desperation: “Dad I love you. Don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody.” She continued shouting, “This is not fair. This is all rigged. You guys are a——s,” before being escorted out herself.
A source familiar with the incident noted that “the pen Routh had access to is specially designed not to injure, so it only left bruises or marks on his neck and he was not injured.” Despite the attempt, Routh showed no signs of blood on his white shirt when he was brought back into the courtroom a few minutes later, now wearing shackles. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who presided over the trial, addressed the outburst calmly, thanking the lawyers and Routh for their time “despite your outburst today.” She then set his sentencing date for December 18, 2025, where the full consequences of his actions will be determined.
Prosecutors mentioned that some jurors witnessed the event, as “the jury has not yet left the room at the time of the defendant’s conduct.” This added an extra layer of tension to an already charged atmosphere.
The Trial and Conviction
The jury took approximately two hours to reach their verdict, finding Routh guilty on all five federal charges: attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a felon, and using a gun with a defaced serial number. The trial, held in Fort Pierce, Florida, featured testimony from 38 law enforcement witnesses, including the Secret Service agent who thwarted the plot.
During deliberations, the jury’s only request was “to see the rifle, ammunition and magazine that Routh allegedly used,” which Judge Cannon allowed them to view in open court. Prosecutors painted a picture of a calculated plan, stating that Routh “put together a methodical plan — including purchasing a military-grade weapon, researching Trump’s movements, and utilizing a dozen burner phones — to kill Trump based on political grievances.”
In their closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized Routh’s proximity to success: “Routh ‘was just one bullet away’ from killing Trump and ensuring he could not be re-elected to the presidency,” said Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Browne. He walked the jury through extensive evidence, noting that Routh made “17 late-night trips to his alleged sniper perch — spending a combined 90 hours there in the month ahead of the attack — and spent thousands of dollars on supplies, including a rifle purchased illegally, bulletproof plates, and nine burner phones.”
Browne concluded by quoting Thomas Jefferson to underscore the broader implications: “The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of government… Not one man with some weird agenda and a gun.”
Routh’s Bizarre Self-Defense
Routh’s decision to represent himself turned the trial into a spectacle. After firing his lawyers earlier in the summer, he was allowed to proceed pro se, though Judge Cannon warned him that “his prior attorneys would do a better job than he would.” Routh could only consult standby lawyers for technical questions, not strategy.
His defense was anything but conventional. In his opening statement, Routh rambled about unrelated topics, including “prehistoric human history and world leaders including Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” The judge interrupted him after less than 10 minutes for violating courtroom rules.
Routh suggested an absurd resolution: “he and Trump face off on the green, and if Trump won, the president could execute Routh. If Routh won, he proposed, he would become president.” He even filed court papers challenging why his case wasn’t death-penalty eligible and asking to be “traded in a prisoner exchange with Hamas, Iran, China and Russia.”
During jury selection, Routh tried to ask potential jurors odd questions, such as “their stance on the US taking over Greenland, pro-Palestinian student activism and how they would react if a turtle crossed the road while they were driving.” Cannon blocked these as “irrelevant.”
At trial, Routh called just three witnesses: two character witnesses and a gun expert. One friend, Marshall Hinshaw, testified, “I would say so… I would not expect you to harm anyone, Ryan,” when asked if Routh was peaceful and nonviolent. Routh himself chose not to testify but argued in his closing that he lacked intent: “The prime opportunity was there for the defendant to shoot the president… Why was the trigger not pulled?” He described the idea of killing Trump as a “fantasy,” comparing it to “longing for a high-end sports car, dreaming of a vacation home, or lusting for his best friend’s wife.” He insisted, “It was never going to happen… It is not in the defendant’s heart.”
Judge Cannon interrupted his 55-minute closing multiple times, excusing the jury twice to rein him in and remind him to stick to the evidence.
The Assassination Plot Unfolded
The charges stemmed from September 15, 2024, when Routh hid in bushes at Trump International West Palm Beach golf course. “Routh was spotted by a Secret Service agent as he was camped out in a sniper’s nest on the edge of the course with an SKS rifle poking through the fence.” The agent fired, prompting Routh to flee before he could shoot. Prosecutors said he had “plotted for weeks before staking out” the course while Trump was golfing.
This was the second attempt on Trump’s life in nine weeks. On July 13, 2024, 20-year-old Michael Thomas Crooks fired at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Reactions from Key Figures
Following the verdict, Trump posted on Truth Social: “This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him… A very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA!” He thanked the judge, jury, and the Secret Service agent for their “professionalism, and patience,” and praised the agent’s “instinct and foresight.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this sentiment on social media: “Today’s guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence… This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself.”
Implications and Sentencing Ahead
As Routh awaits sentencing on December 18, 2025, the case raises questions about mental health, political extremism, and security for public figures. Routh’s filings and statements, like claiming “This case means absolutely nothing… A life has been lived to the fullest,” suggest a mix of delusion and defiance. While he argued his “intent was harmless,” the evidence of his preparations convinced the jury otherwise. This trial serves as a reminder of the fragile line between fantasy and deadly action in a divided nation.