ORLANDO, Fla. — In a significant development, a man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida will not stand trial until September 2025. A federal judge has ruled to move the trial date, originally set for February 10, 2025, to September 8, 2025.
Ryan Routh, 58, who resides in Hawaii, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His legal team requested a postponement to allow for further review of evidence against him and to consider an insanity defense, prompting the court to analyze the implications of such a request.
Routh reportedly possessed 17 cellphones along with various electronic devices, and defense attorneys noted the considerable amount of police body camera footage and surveillance videos that must be examined. In ruling on the trial date, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon emphasized the need for thorough deliberation given the gravity of the charges. She stated that delaying the trial until December would be excessive, and determined that the September date would not constitute an unreasonable delay.
Cannon mandated that any claims regarding Routh’s mental competency or insanity defense be filed by early February. She also stipulated that any site visits related to the case must occur by the end of February.
Prosecutors allege that Routh meticulously planned the assassination attempt for weeks before aiming a rifle at Trump as he played golf on September 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent noticed Routh before Trump was in view, leading to a confrontation during which Routh allegedly aimed his weapon at the agent. The agent returned fire, prompting Routh to abandon his rifle and flee without discharging his weapon. Authorities reported that Routh left a note outlining his intentions.
Routh was apprehended shortly after while driving on a nearby interstate. The charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries severe consequences, potentially resulting in a life sentence if convicted. Additionally, he faces charges of assaulting a federal officer and multiple firearms violations. Routh is currently detained at a federal facility in Miami without bail.
This incident follows a separate assassination attempt where Trump was shot and injured at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania just two months earlier. The Secret Service has acknowledged shortcomings in security measures leading to that shooting but asserts that appropriate protocols were observed to prevent the potential attack in Florida.
