Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man from Kaaawa, Hawaii, was arrested for allegedly stalking former President Donald Trump while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, with an SKS-style rifle in an apparent assassination attempt that was thwarted by the Secret Service. Routh had a criminal past and a history of supporting various political figures, including Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden. He had also expressed support for Ukraine by trying to recruit fighters and even urged Iran to assassinate Trump in a self-published book. Routh’s online presence showed a variety of views, ranging from left to right, and he portrayed himself as a man who built housing for homeless people in Hawaii.
Routh had registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012 but had made small donations to Democratic candidates through ActBlue since 2019. His social media posts reflected his changing views on Trump, with earlier support turning into disdain and support for Biden and Kamala Harris. He described democracy as being on the ballot and urged his followers to vote for Biden in the 2020 election. Routh’s online activities also included posts about various conflicts, particularly regarding Ukraine, where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to fight for Kyiv. Despite his vocal support for Ukraine, he had never served in the Ukrainian army or worked with its military.
In addition to his political views, Routh also had a history of criminal convictions, including a felony conviction for possessing explosives in 2002 in North Carolina. He had also been convicted of possession of stolen goods in 2010 and had several misdemeanor charges related to carrying concealed weapons, hit-and-run incidents, and driving with a revoked license. Despite these convictions, Routh avoided prison time through either probation or suspended sentences. It was unclear how Routh was able to obtain a firearm given his criminal history, as most states prohibit felons from purchasing or possessing firearms.
After his criminal past in North Carolina, Routh moved to Kaaawa, Hawaii, in 2018 to start a business with his son building small wooden sheds to help address homelessness on the island. He had expressed a desire to combat the high homelessness rate in Hawaii due to gentrification. Routh was known as a respectful and kind neighbor, who kept to himself and surprised those around him with his alleged involvement in the assassination attempt on Trump. His arrest shocked his neighbors, who described him as a courteous and quiet individual. Authorities have not disclosed how Routh was able to obtain the firearm used in the assassination attempt or if he had any accomplices in planning the attack.
Stay updated for more information on this developing story.Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] if you have any information or tips related to this case.
