Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Tries to Stab Himself in Court After Guilty Verdict

WASHINGTON — Moments after a federal jury convicted him of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, Ryan Routh tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen inside a Washington courtroom Tuesday before officers quickly restrained him.

Routh, 59, was found guilty on all counts after a jury of five men and seven women deliberated for about two hours.

He faced charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses stemming from a 2024 plot to kill Trump at a Florida golf course.

As jurors exited the courtroom, Routh grabbed a pen from a desk and tried to stab himself in the neck. Court officers immediately tackled him and dragged him from the room.

His daughter, Sara Routh, screamed, “Dad, I love you, don’t do anything. I’ll get you out,” before claiming the case was rigged as she waited outside with her brother. R

outh was brought back before the judge shortly afterward, shackled and without his jacket and tie. There were no visible signs of injury.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set sentencing for Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m. Routh faces life in prison. Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks planning the Sept. 15, 2024, attempt to shoot Trump as the Republican played golf at his West Palm Beach country club.

A Secret Service agent testified he spotted Routh aiming a rifle through shrubbery. The agent fired, causing Routh to drop the weapon and flee without shooting.

Routh defended himself at trial and declined to testify. In his closing argument, he claimed he never intended to fire his weapon.

“It’s hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled,” he told jurors.

Over seven days, the prosecution called 38 witnesses. Routh presented three, including a firearms expert and two character witnesses, in about three hours. His standby defense attorneys did not comment after the verdict.

Attorney General Pam Bondi called the guilty verdict a reflection of the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting political violence.

“This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation,” she said in a post on X.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case sent “a clear message” that attempts to silence political voices would be met with relentless prosecution.

Routh was a former construction worker from North Carolina who had moved to Hawaii in recent years. Known as a self-styled mercenary, he had spoken about plans to engage in international conflicts, including attempts to recruit fighters to battle Russian forces in Ukraine.

He also has a criminal history, including weapons and theft charges dating back to 2002.

In addition to the federal convictions, Routh faces separate state charges of terrorism and attempted murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty.