Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, received a life sentence plus seven years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the ruling in Fort Pierce, Florida, on February 4, 2026. Prosecutors had sought the maximum penalty for the 2024 incident.
Courtroom Proceedings
Judge Cannon sentenced Routh to life for the attempted assassination count. She added 84 months for a firearm offense. This followed Routh’s conviction on five charges in September 2025. During the earlier verdict reading, Routh attempted to stab himself with a pen, but marshals stopped him.
Details of the Crime
A Secret Service agent spotted Routh with a rifle at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15, 2024. Routh had hidden in bushes and pushed the weapon through a fence. He fled after agents fired shots but authorities arrested him soon after.
Evidence included a loaded rifle with an obliterated serial number, a backpack, cellphone records, and a letter where Routh confessed his intent to kill Trump.
Trial and Conviction
A jury found Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, being a felon with a firearm, and owning a gun with a removed serial number. The trial revealed Routh’s motivation to prevent Trump’s election.
Official Reactions
FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “Ryan Routh’s attempted assassination of President Trump was a disgusting act — mere weeks before an election and only months after a separate assassination attempt came dangerously close to succeeding.” Additionally Routh’s attorney expressed hope that his actions would not influence others.
