Ryan Rouse, the man accused of attempting to kill President Trump while on a golf course in South Florida last year, was found guilty on Tuesday. He defended himself during the trial.
A jury in Florida convicted Rouse on all five charges he faced in federal court, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
This conviction comes at a time of heightened national concern about political violence, especially following the recent fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Federal prosecutors stated that Rouse spent weeks planning the attack on Trump, allegedly using a rifle near six holes at the West Palm Beach Golf Course last year.
In closing arguments, U.S. attorney Christopher Brown emphasized the need for “common sense” in the jury’s deliberations, saying, “The evidence clearly shows one thing: Ryan Wesley Rouse wanted Donald Trump to die.”
The prosecution presented 38 witnesses over the course of seven days, while Rouse called only three—two character witnesses and a firearms expert—in just three hours, opting not to testify himself.
During the trial, U.S. District Judge Irene Cannon was able to observe Rouse and make assessments based on previous hearings that allowed him to represent himself without a public defender.
After the verdict, Rouse maintained that he had not pulled the trigger, questioning how a crime could occur if no shots were fired. He also veered off into discussions about current conflicts, mentioning war in Ukraine and Gaza.
It’s relatively rare for defendants to represent themselves, but the Supreme Court has determined that if they can demonstrate an understanding of their rights, they are permitted to do so.
According to reports, Rouse exhibited a casual demeanor during witness questioning, often asking “yes or no” questions and even shared moments with adult children present in the courtroom.
Rouse’s daughter, Sarah, described the trial as “equipped,” expressing concerns about the judge’s impartiality and suggesting that Cannon should have recused herself. “If anyone really has a heart, they’ll see my dad doesn’t deserve this,” she remarked.
The incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach took place last September, just two months after another assassination attempt against Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In that earlier event, the shooter was killed by Secret Service snipers following the attack. Rouse was apprehended before Trump was visible, and a Secret Service agent testified that he had fired at Rouse, leading to his arrest on a nearby highway.
Recent years have seen a troubling surge in attacks against political figures from both major parties. For example, Kirk was shot dead while speaking at an event, and other political leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, have faced violent incidents.
In 2021, a mob supporting Trump stormed the Capitol during the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
Contributions to this report were noted.
