Man accused of trying to kill Trump says prosecutors haven't proven assassination attempt; judge denies acquittal

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year told a federal judge Friday that prosecutors haven't proven an assassination attempt occurred. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon denied his motion for acquittal, clearing the way for jurors to decide his fate.

Prosecutors rested their case after presenting 38 witnesses over seven days. Ryan Routh, who is representing himself, sought acquittal on four of five counts after court recessed for the weekend, excluding the charge that he was a felon in possession of a firearm. He argued that prosecutors hadn’t proven an attempt to kill Trump. “They maybe proved that someone was outside the (golf course) fence with a gun, but the gun was never fired,” Routh said. Prosecutors countered that he took multiple substantial steps toward carrying out the attack, including aiming a loaded gun with its safety off through the fence as Trump played.

Cannon denied the motion, explaining that a juror could reasonably find that prosecutors had met their burden of proof. The judge also signaled that the next phase will begin with defense testimony. The defense plans to call three witnesses, including a firearms expert and two character witnesses, and has not said whether Routh himself will testify. He told the judge that his case should take about half a day. Cannon set closing arguments for Tuesday, with each side allotted about one hour and 45 minutes; jurors will begin deliberating after that.

The pace of the trial has been quicker than anticipated. Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, but Routh’s shorter cross-examinations contributed to a faster schedule than projected.

Prosecutors used a broad array of evidence to connect Routh’s actions to an ongoing plan to harm the president. FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy testified that cellphone records, location data, text messages, bank records, internet searches, security video and various store receipts illustrated Routh’s movements and his efforts to obtain a firearm months before the attack. McGreevy said he traveled to South Florida about a month before the assassination attempt and lived out of a black Nissan Xterra, typically parked at a western Palm Beach County truck stop, as he surveilled Trump-related sites around Palm Beach International Airport, Trump International Golf Club and Mar-a-Lago.

A Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view on the course. Routh allegedly aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without a shot being fired. A witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing after hearing gunshots was flown by police helicopter to a nearby interstate, where he identified the fleeing individual as Routh and assisted in his arrest.

The trial has also highlighted the broader security context surrounding Trump during the 2024 campaign. Nine weeks earlier, Trump survived another attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania when a gunman fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear; the gunman was later fatally shot by a Secret Service counter-sniper.

Legal observers have noted the case’s rapid pace contrasts with initial expectations for a lengthy, high-profile trial. The defense’s decision to call additional witnesses and whether Routh will testify will shape the remainder of proceedings as jurors prepare to deliberate after closing arguments.