Daughter of would-be Trump assassin reacts outside court after father's conviction

A Florida federal jury on Tuesday convicted Ryan Routh, 59, of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and multiple firearm offenses in connection with an armed attack on Donald Trump at a Palm Beach golf course in September 2024. The verdict also found him guilty of felony possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, along with assaulting a federal officer. Routh faces a maximum life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for December 18.

Authorities said the episode unfolded on September 15, 2024, when Trump was playing a round at one of his Florida courses. A gun and a camera were recovered at the scene, and a nationwide manhunt followed the attack before Routh was taken into custody. He opted to represent himself at trial despite warnings from prosecutors and judges against self-representation.

In court, after the verdict was read, Routh jabbed at his neck with a pen, a moment captured by body cam footage and court observers. Prosecutors said the defendant had engineered an attempt to kill Trump and had carried out a plan that included evading capture.

Outside the courthouse, Routh’s daughter, Sarah Ellen Routh, became a focal point of a tense moment as she reacted to the verdict. Distressed and emotional, she ran from the building and shouted at reporters to “get the f**k out of my face.” She was later seen waiting by the back gates as several police vehicles exited, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father as he was moved to federal custody. She was joined by her brother Adam, who offered her support as the family awaited further proceedings.

The case drew renewed attention to the security measures surrounding Trump’s campaign as federal authorities continued to pursue charges related to threats against a major political candidate. Trump issued a statement congratulating Attorney General Pam Bondi and her office for the investigation and trial, praising the handling as “meticulously” conducted. “This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him,” the former president said.

Pretrial filings in the case included a bizarre motion in which Routh requested a round of golf with the “racist pig” whom he blamed for his own troubles, a reference to Trump, along with other outlandish requests including strippers and a putting green for an imagined extravaganza. The defense note contrasted starkly with the seriousness of the charges and the gravity of the attack.

The September 2024 incident occurred nine weeks after Trump survived another assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, underscoring the persistent security challenges surrounding the Republican figure as he campaigns. If convicted on all counts, Routh could spend the rest of his life behind bars; his sentencing is set for December 18.