Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump had called Putin a “terrorist”

Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old convicted felon, was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course. Routh, who previously supported Trump, reportedly voted for him in 2016 but later expressed regret, saying in a 2020 social media post that he had “misjudged” the former president and “made a terrible mistake,” according to U.S. media reports.

Routh, originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, has a history of run-ins with the law, including convictions for gun crimes and possession of stolen goods. His arrest on Sunday marks the second time in two months that someone has allegedly tried to assassinate Trump, signaling a potential escalation in threats against the former president.

A convicted felon, Routh was previously involved in efforts to recruit foreign fighters to Ukraine. In a self-published book titled Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, he questioned when it is “acceptable to kill another human being,” raising concerns about his extremist views.

In April 2022, Routh was interviewed by AFP during a rally in Kyiv, just two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In the interview, Routh called Putin a “terrorist” and urged people worldwide to come to Ukraine’s defense. His social media posts, later suspended, reportedly showed a willingness to “fight and die” in Ukraine. According to The New York Times, Routh claimed to have thousands of Afghan and Syrian fighters ready to join the fight if given approval from Washington and Kyiv.

Despite his efforts, Routh was never formally affiliated with Ukraine’s foreign legion. A representative of the legion described Routh’s plans as “delusional” and “not realistic” in comments to CNN.

Routh’s criminal record extends back to 2002, when he was convicted of possessing a weapon of mass destruction. In 2010, he was convicted of possessing stolen goods. CNN reported that Routh had been involved in court cases dating back to the 1990s, including civil suits related to unpaid taxes.

Following his arrest on Sunday, local authorities released a photo showing Routh disheveled, his hands cuffed behind his back and his T-shirt pulled up to his chest. His eldest son, Oran, told CNN that his father was a “loving and caring” man, adding that the accusations do not “sound like the man I know.”

Routh’s current business, based in Hawaii, focuses on building economical structures to combat homelessness, an issue he reportedly cared about deeply. In 2019, local media reported that he donated one of his cabins to the homeless, further highlighting his complex and often contradictory behavior.

As Routh faces potential new charges related to the alleged assassination attempt, his long history of criminal activity and activism will likely come under further scrutiny. His 291-page book, which outlines his call to arms for Ukraine, poses unsettling questions about the motivations behind his actions and the lengths to which he was willing to go.