Patriot Brief

  • What Happened: Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years for attempting to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course.
  • Why It Matters: The ruling underscores the severity of political violence and the role of Secret Service intervention in stopping the attack.
  • Bottom Line: Federal court delivered maximum punishment for a deliberate plot to prevent Americans from voting.

A man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Ryan Routh was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus seven years following his 2024 assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club. The sentence came after Routh was convicted last September on five federal counts, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses.

Routh spoke for roughly 15 minutes during sentencing, repeating themes from his trial. He portrayed himself as a good person, referenced alleged efforts in Ukraine, and insisted he never intended to kill anyone. His attorney, Martin Roth, maintained Routh’s not-guilty plea and argued for a lesser sentence, saying Routh did not pull the trigger.

The court was not persuaded.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon cut Routh off mid-statement and delivered a blistering assessment. She said Routh intended to kill Trump and would have succeeded if not for a Secret Service agent who disrupted the plot. “Your plot to kill was deliberate and evil,” Cannon said, adding, “You are not a peaceful man.”

Prosecutors described the plan as a “cold-blooded concealed kill,” arguing the goal was to ensure Americans “didn’t even have the chance to vote for him.” A Secret Service agent testified he spotted Routh aiming a rifle through shrubbery before Trump came into view, opened fire, and forced Routh to flee without firing.

Cannon imposed life without parole plus seven years on a gun charge, with remaining sentences running concurrently. As he was escorted out, Routh reportedly winked and blew a kiss toward the gallery.

The message from the bench was unmistakable. Political violence will be met with the harshest punishment the law allows.