Self-Representing Defendant's Plot to Stop Trump Takes Center Stage in High-Stakes Trial

The criminal trial of Ryan Routh, the defendant accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump last year, commenced with jury selection on Monday in a federal court in South Florida. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and firearm violations. He is also facing state charges of terrorism and attempted murder, to which he has similarly pleaded not guilty. Judge Aileen Cannon is presiding over the trial, and Routh has elected to represent himself, a decision the court approved earlier this year.

During Monday's jury selection, a total of 60 potential jurors were summoned. Prosecutors used their peremptory challenges to dismiss 20 individuals, leaving 40 to return for further screening on Tuesday. Routh will be allowed to issue his seven challenges on the same day. Notably, no jurors were selected on Monday. An additional 60 potential jurors are scheduled to appear on Tuesday. Potential jurors received questionnaires to assess suitability, with the process expected to continue over the coming days.

The prosecution has outlined a detailed case asserting that Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks prior to the alleged assassination attempt. According to court documents, Routh allegedly expressed a desire to acquire anti-aircraft weaponry to shoot down Trump's aircraft and sought to purchase a .50 caliber rifle for added destructive capability. Prosecutors claim Routh attempted to obtain these weapons via an associate he believed had access to military-grade equipment. Routh's alleged intent was to prevent Trump from winning the 2024 election.

The firearms used in the case are central to the prosecution's narrative. Routh was found with an AK-47-style rifle approximately 300–500 yards from Trump when a Secret Service agent spotted him at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15, 2024. The agent fired, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without discharging it. Federal prosecutors have identified two individuals, Tina Brown Cooper and Ronnie Jay Oxendine, who have pleaded guilty to gun-related charges in connection with the sale of a Chinese-made SKS rifle to Routh. Cooper acted as a middleman in the transaction, for which Routh paid $350 in cash to Oxendine and $100 to Cooper for facilitating the sale.

Routh's legal history includes lesser offenses but also a 2002 felony charge for possession of a weapon of mass destruction, according to North Carolina Department of Corrections records. His political affiliations include a Democratic primary vote in North Carolina in 2024, though he appears to be registered as an unaffiliated voter. His son, Oren Routh, has publicly denied any violent tendencies, calling his father a “non-violent, hardworking man.” Routh's social media presence, including on X (formerly Twitter), has been suspended following posts critical of Trump and other political figures.

As the trial progresses, it will examine both the logistical aspects of the alleged plot and the broader implications of political violence in the U.S. The case has drawn national attention, occurring amid heightened tensions and political polarization following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator. The trial's outcome will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike, with the first opening statements expected as early as Thursday.