An apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump unfolded at his Florida golf club on Sunday, with authorities identifying the suspected shooter as Ryan Wesley Routh. The 58-year-old Routh, who allegedly used an “AK-47 style rifle” in the attack, has a checkered criminal past and a complex political history. While law enforcement has not publicly named the suspect, multiple outlets have confirmed Routh’s involvement, shedding light on his troubling background and motivations.
Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh: A Troubled Past
Ryan Wesley Routh has been identified as the prime suspect in what authorities believe was an assassination attempt targeting former President Trump. Routh’s criminal record is extensive, dating back to at least 2002 when he faced charges in North Carolina for possessing a “weapon of mass destruction,” which was reportedly a fully automatic machine gun. Law enforcement sources confirmed this past charge to WIRED, who interviewed the officer involved in Routh’s arrest two decades ago.
Additionally, NBC uncovered more than 100 criminal charges linked to Routh, most of which were filed in Guilford County, North Carolina. Despite his extensive criminal history, Routh had managed to stay relatively under the radar until this weekend’s incident.
Routh’s Complex Political Views: From Trump Supporter to Opponent
One of the most intriguing aspects of Routh’s profile is his shifting political allegiances. According to multiple reports, Routh was a staunch Trump supporter during the 2016 election but became disillusioned by 2020. His recent online statements, posted before his account was suspended on X (formerly known as Twitter), suggest that he had shifted his support toward Republican figures like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, indicating a sharp break from his previous backing of Trump.
Records show that Routh had recently voted in the North Carolina Democratic primary in March and contributed over $100 to ActBlue, a platform used for Democratic campaign donations. These details paint a picture of a man whose political identity had become increasingly erratic and unpredictable in recent years.
Links to Ukraine and Military Service Aspirations
Routh’s past is further complicated by his attempts to volunteer for military service in Ukraine. Both Semafor and The New York Times reported that they had interviewed Routh last year about his efforts to assist Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The New York Times described Routh as a former construction worker from Greensboro, North Carolina, though he had most recently been residing in Hawai’i.
His desire to get involved in international conflicts, combined with his extensive criminal history and shifting political views, adds layers of complexity to his motivations for allegedly attempting to harm the former president.
What Comes Next?
While Routh has been taken into custody, police have yet to release a full statement confirming his name or the specific charges he will face. The investigation is ongoing, and many questions remain about how someone with such a troubled past could have come close to executing an attack on a former president.