Ryan Routh, Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt, Acts as His Own Lawyer as Trial Begins in Florida

The long-awaited trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, began Monday morning in Fort Pierce with jury selection. The case is already drawing national attention as questions circulate about how the process will unfold, whether the public can watch, and exactly where he is being held.

On September 15, 2024, Ryan Wesley Routh was discovered at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, armed with a semi-automatic SKS-style rifle fitted with a scope. Prosecutors say he had set up a "sniper's nest" in nearby shrubbery and aimed the weapon through a fence toward Donald Trump as the former president played on the course. A Secret Service agent spotted him before he could fire, prompting Routh to flee the scene. Agents fired in response, and he was arrested a short time later with the rifle, ammunition, and a handwritten note that opened with the words: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you."

Now Routh, 59, faces five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and firearms offenses.

He has pleaded not guilty and made the unusual choice to represent himself, with court-appointed lawyers standing by in case he changes course. Legal analysts warn that self-representation is a risky strategy that could work against him in front of the jury.

According to a report from the AP, the proceedings are taking place at the U.S. District Court in Fort Pierce, a small coastal city about an hour north of West Palm Beach. Security is tight around the courthouse, with marshals and police restricting access to reporters, sketch artists, and members of the public allowed into the gallery.

Federal courts do not permit cameras, recording devices, or live streams, so the trial can't be seen remotely.

Observers must be present inside the courtroom, and even then, restrictions are strict. Phones and smartwatches are banned, leaving journalists to rely on notes and sketches to report what happens inside.

As for where he is, Routh is currently in federal custody but appears daily in court under the order of Judge Aileen Cannon, who has instructed that he dress in professional clothing before the jury. On Monday, he sat in the courtroom prepared to take on his own defense, questioning jurors directly.

Jury selection is expected to last up to three days as both sides narrow down panels of sixty potential jurors per day to seat twelve jurors and four alternates. Opening statements could begin as early as Thursday. Prosecutors are expected to highlight evidence that includes a rifle, ammunition, digital files, and Routh's handwritten note.

The trial is scheduled to run up to four weeks, though attorneys believe it may finish sooner. With the eyes of the nation on Fort Pierce, the case has already become one of the most closely followed federal trials in years.