Jurors Deliberate in Trump Golf Course Assassination Attempt Trial

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Jurors began deliberations Tuesday in the federal criminal trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in September 2024. Routh, 59, faces five federal charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

During closing arguments, prosecutors highlighted digital and forensic evidence and what they described as Routh's clear intent to kill Trump. This was not a publicity stunt, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Browne told the jury. The evidence has shown one thing and one thing only — the defendant wanted Donald Trump dead, Browne said, adding that the worst part was that he almost got away with it. Browne told jurors that Routh excessively stalked Trump's locations and whereabouts in the weeks before the alleged assassination attempt on Sept. 15, 2024. He noted that Routh allegedly traveled on 17 separate occasions to scope out the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach. These were reconnaissance missions, Browne argued. There were 19 rounds found in the magazine of the SKS rifle recovered at the scene, including one in the chamber. There is no doubt, no reasonable doubt, no doubt whatsoever that it was the man, Browne said, pointing at Routh, who was hiding in the sniper's nest. Browne also pointed to lyrics from a rap song Routh wrote about killing Trump with a sniper rifle — one he penned after he was caught and arrested by the FBI. It's not every case where the defendant writes down his intent on a piece of paper, Browne said. The prosecution spent most of its time Tuesday focusing on count one of the five federal criminal charges Routh is facing: Attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. Roughly five minutes were allotted for counts two through five.

The defense contrasted the government's case, arguing that the evidence is largely circumstantial and that no direct proof shows a planned attempt against Trump. Routh confirmed he understood and told Cannon he would not testify on his own behalf, despite repeated offers for him to reconsider with standby counsel. Attorneys for the defense questioned how cellphone data, bank records and DNA evidence were interpreted and pressed for alternative explanations of the traces tying Routh to the West Palm Beach site.

The government has presented hundreds of exhibits and testimony from 38 witnesses over roughly two weeks, building a narrative that ties Routh to the golf club via digital, financial, and physical traces. The charges carry a potential life sentence if all counts are proven. The case has drawn national attention to security around presidential campaigns and to the use of cellphone data, social media traces and DNA evidence in high-stakes federal crimes. The Sept. 15, 2024 date anchors the prosecution's theory of a planned assault at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, with jurors weighing whether Routh acted with the requisite intent when authorities say he took up a sniper's position near the sixth hole and prepared to fire.