The trial of Ryan Wesley Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, opened with heated confrontations and multiple scoldings from the presiding judge. Acting as his own attorney, Routh faced the Secret Service agent who claimed he aimed a rifle at him, while the courtroom struggled to maintain order amid his rambling statements and outbursts.
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Secret Service Testimony
Secret Service agent Robert Fercano testified that he discovered Routh hiding in shrubbery along the fence line of the Trump International Golf Club last September. Under questioning, Fercano said, “I do not know your mindset that day, but I know you pointed that weapon at my face.” Prosecutors credit Fercano with thwarting the attack after Routh allegedly aimed but never fired his rifle.
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Judge Issues Stern Warning
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, presiding over the federal trial, repeatedly warned Routh against turning the proceedings into “a mockery of the dignity of the courtroom.” Despite her admonitions, Routh, who dismissed his public defenders, persisted in making irrelevant statements, forcing Cannon to cut short his opening arguments.
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Charges and Possible Sentence
Routh, a 59-year-old from Hawaii and former Trump supporter, faces charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearm violations. Prosecutors said he plotted for weeks, visiting the golf club at least 17 times and carrying “a military-grade weapon” along with “diapers” to endure long hours in hiding. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
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Disruptions in the Courtroom
In his opening remarks, Routh veered off topic, asking jurors about “Homo erectus” and citing world leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler. Cannon promptly intervened, telling him his remarks were irrelevant. When the jury returned, Routh rambled about “beauty” and “building wheels” before declaring, “No, this case means absolutely nothing, and a life has been lived.”
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Jury Selection Dispute
Routh briefly claimed that jury selection was racially biased after two Black jurors were struck. Cannon asked if he was raising a Batson challenge, a formal objection against discriminatory jury strikes. Routh quickly retreated, stating, “I think we got our jury. … We just got a racist situation,” before moving on.
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Prosecution’s Case Outline
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley told the court that Routh’s actions were deliberate and carefully planned. “Ladies and gentlemen, he was not there to play golf in the middle of the night,” Shipley said, emphasizing that Routh had been “obsessively tracking Trump’s movements” in the lead-up to the incident.
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Family Reaction
Outside the courtroom, Routh’s daughter Sara defended her father’s performance as his own lawyer. “He’s not, you know, a lawyer, but I think he’s been doing a great job,” she told NBC News. Meanwhile, the trial continues under the oversight of Judge Cannon, who has previously drawn attention for high-profile Trump-related cases.