Hawaii Man Sentenced to Life for Attempted Trump Assassination

Ryan Routh convicted of premeditated plot to kill former president during 2024 election campaign

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old former Hawaii resident, was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump in 2024. Routh was convicted by a jury last September of five criminal counts, including attempted assassination, after serving as his own defense lawyer at trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the life sentence, stating that Routh engaged in a "premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life."

Why it matters

The attempted assassination of a former U.S. president is an extremely serious crime that threatens the stability of American democracy. This case highlights the ongoing risks of political violence and the challenges of preventing such attacks, especially in the highly charged political climate surrounding presidential elections.

The details

Routh was arrested in September 2024 after Secret Service agents spotted him hiding in bushes near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a semi-automatic rifle. Prosecutors said Routh had arrived in South Florida about a month earlier and used fake names and multiple cellphones to track Trump's movements. Routh was convicted of five criminal counts, including attempted assassination, illegal firearm possession, and impeding a federal officer.

  • Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, near a golf course where Trump was playing.
  • Routh was convicted by a jury in September 2025.

The players

Ryan Routh

A 59-year-old former Hawaii resident who was convicted of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump in 2024.

Aileen Cannon

The U.S. District Judge who sentenced Routh to life in prison.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who stated that Routh will never walk free again.

John Shipley

The prosecutor who argued that Routh's crimes were aimed at "upending American democracy" and urged the judge to send a message that political violence is unacceptable.

Martin Roth

Routh's lawyer who said Routh was a troubled and complex person but had a "very good core" and cared deeply about the well-being of others.

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What they’re saying

“It's clear to me that you engaged in a premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life.”

— Aileen Cannon, U.S. District Judge

“Ryan Routh's heinous attempted assassination of President Trump was not only an attack on our President — it was a direct assault against our entire democratic system.”

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General

“There has been much in this case about this narrative of your peaceful nature. For me, it's the opposite.”

— Aileen Cannon, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

Routh's lawyer, Martin Roth, said he plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.

The takeaway

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of political violence in the United States and the need for continued vigilance to protect the integrity of the democratic process, even in the aftermath of a presidential election.