Man Sentenced to Life for Plotting to Kill Trump in 2024

The convicted assassin made bizarre requests during his trial, including strippers and a golf putting green.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 59-year-old man named Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years for plotting to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course in September 2024, just two months before the 2024 US election. Routh was arrested after a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle poking from the bushes on the golf course perimeter while Trump was playing a round. This was the second assassination attempt on Trump's life in the lead-up to the 2024 election.

Why it matters

The sentencing highlights the ongoing security threats and political tensions surrounding high-profile political figures, especially in the lead-up to pivotal elections. The case also raises questions about the mental state of individuals who would attempt such violent acts against elected leaders.

The details

Routh, who represented himself at trial despite having no legal training, made a number of bizarre requests while in detention, including asking for strippers and a golf putting green. He also requested that jurors be selected based on their views on Gaza and Trump's desire to purchase Greenland, though these demands were rejected. The sentencing comes just two months after another assassination attempt on Trump's life in Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old man fired several shots at a rally, grazing Trump's right ear and killing a rally attendee.

  • Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024 after a Secret Service agent spotted the rifle barrel.
  • The sentencing took place on February 4, 2026.

The players

Ryan Routh

A 59-year-old man convicted of plotting to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump in 2024.

Donald Trump

The former US president who was the target of Routh's assassination plot in 2024, two months before the election that brought him back to the White House.

Aileen Cannon

The judge who sentenced Routh to life in prison plus seven years, saying the sentence was "to protect the public from future crime" committed by Routh.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The evil is in you. Not in everybody else.”

— Judge Aileen Cannon, Presiding Judge

What’s next

The case has raised concerns about security threats and political tensions surrounding high-profile figures, especially during election seasons. Authorities will likely continue to monitor potential threats and take steps to protect candidates and elected leaders.

The takeaway

This sentencing underscores the gravity of assassination attempts against political leaders and the need for robust security measures to safeguard the democratic process, even in the face of extreme ideological divides and threats of violence.