Ryan Routh, the man accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump, has just been granted the right to represent himself in court.
In a stunning turn of events, Routh, charged with attempting to kill Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024, won permission from a federal judge to act as his attorney, though his court-appointed legal team must stay on standby, Fox News reported.
On that fateful day in September, Routh allegedly lurked in the bushes outside the golf club, armed with a rifle, while Trump played on the course.
Early reports reveal that he camped out with an SKS-style rifle, a backpack, and a shopping bag—both packed with plates designed to stop small arms fire, based on initial ballistics tests.
Clearly, this wasn’t some random outburst—it marked the second alleged assassination attempt on Trump in just a few months, underscoring the grave risks public figures face in today’s increasingly polarized environment.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted assassination, assault on a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations. With that, he’s set the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that’s sure to draw national attention.
On July 24, 2025, Routh appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, Florida. He looked disheveled in beige jail scrubs, scribbled notes despite his wrist shackles, and showed every sign of defiance.
After reviewing the matter carefully, Judge Cannon granted Routh’s request to represent himself. However, she refused to excuse his attorneys, ordering them to remain on standby.
“Will defend you far better,” Cannon warned, urging Routh to reconsider his risky decision. But her warning didn’t seem to register—Routh appeared resolute in handling his defense alone.
A day before the hearing, Routh’s legal team filed to withdraw, citing an “irreconcilably broken” relationship after he refused six attempts by their office to meet with him.
Even a last-ditch effort to speak with him at the Federal Detention Center in Miami failed when Routh flat-out declined to see them—talk about a cold shoulder.
“They’re afraid of me,” Routh reportedly said of his attorneys, questioning how they could defend him while seemingly not appreciating who he is—a fair point, perhaps, but a dangerous gamble in a case this serious.
In a letter to the judge, Routh voiced his frustrations with his legal team. He accused them of ignoring him and sabotaging his efforts, then bluntly declared, “Best I walk alone.”
He also questioned the justice system’s limits, musing about the death penalty and asking, “Why is it not allowed?” The comment offered a stark glimpse into a man grappling with the weight of his situation—though many conservatives might argue the remark felt more performative than profound in a system they see as tilted toward progressive leniency.
Stranger still, Routh proposed a prisoner swap. He suggested the government send him to Siberia or trade him to adversaries like China or Iran in exchange for diplomatic leverage. He claimed such a move would “save all this court mess”—a notion so bizarre it might make even the most hardened anti-establishment patriot question whether this is legal strategy or sheer desperation.
