Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man originally from North Carolina and more recently a Hawaii resident, is the individual charged with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh, who has a varied background including political activity and international travel, is known to have previously supported Trump in 2016 before shifting his views. He later became an outspoken critic, even expressing regret for his past support and calling Trump’s policies, especially on foreign issues like the Iran nuclear deal, “tremendous blunders” that strengthened adversarial nations.

In addition to his political history, Routh has an extensive criminal record dating back to the early 2000s, including a conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction after a standoff involving a fully automatic firearm. He has also been involved in international causes, notably attempting to volunteer in Ukraine’s fight against Russia, though he was not formally accepted by Ukrainian forces due to unrealistic recruitment promises he made on social media.

At the time of his arrest following the golf course incident, Routh was found to have left behind a scoped rifle and other equipment. He currently faces federal charges related to the assassination attempt, including assault on a federal officer and possession of a firearm as a felon. Routh has pled not guilty to the charges and awaits further court proceedings.

For more detailed information, you can explore the coverage by WLRH, PolitiFact, and ITV News.

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Donald Trump recently survived a second alleged assassination attempt on September 15, 2024, while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was reportedly found hiding in bushes with an AK-47-style rifle equipped with a scope, as well as other gear, including backpacks and a GoPro camera. A Secret Service agent spotted the suspect’s weapon and acted swiftly, prompting Routh to flee the scene. Authorities were able to detain him shortly afterward based on witness descriptions of his vehicle.

Routh has been charged at both the state and federal levels for attempted assassination. This incident follows a previous attempt on Trump’s life in July, where a bullet grazed him during a rally in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, Trump was unharmed in both incidents, and he publicly expressed his determination to continue his campaign undeterred.

The FBI and Secret Service are investigating the case, and further details about the suspect’s background have emerged, indicating a criminal history and past involvement in efforts related to the Ukraine conflict. These events have sparked discussions on the challenges of protecting high-profile political figures amid increasing political tensions in the U.S.

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