Ryan Rouse sent loving messages to his three adult children and his fiancée shortly before a US Secret Service agent identified him as the individual who allegedly attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was golfing in Florida.
On the day of his arrest, Rouse called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County Jail to inform her of what had happened, but she had already heard the news. “Everyone knows, it was hours,” she was recorded saying. “The whole world knows.”
Rouse has been representing himself in federal court following charges of trying to kill Trump and is set to present his defense on Monday, intending to call three witnesses.
A veteran prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Southern Florida concluded their case on Friday after spending a week calling 38 witnesses to ensure Rouse receives a life sentence.
According to the prosecution, Rouse had been plotting this act for weeks, targeting Trump at the West Palm Beach Country Club on September 15, 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges that include attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and multiple violations involving firearms with federal agents.
During a recent court session, Rouse informed District Court Judge Irene Cannon that he estimated needing only about half a day to present his case. He mentioned plans to call a firearms expert and character witnesses but did not disclose if he would testify himself.
Cannon permitted Rouse to represent himself after two hearings in July, despite acknowledging that the public defenders assigned to him were dedicated but didn’t fully understand his perspective. “Are you supposed to say I’m not a dangerous person when they represent me and don’t believe it?” Rouse questioned during those hearings.
The U.S. Supreme Court affirms that a defendant can represent themselves if they demonstrate to the judge that they understand the implications. Rouse’s previous attorney has remained as standby counsel since he decided to take on his own defense and has attended the trial over the last two weeks.
As the trial wraps up, Judge Cannon has indicated that closing arguments will take place on Tuesday, allotting each side an hour and 45 minutes to present their case before jury deliberations begin. Although Cannon initially set aside over three weeks for the trial, Rouse’s quick cross-examinations have led to a more expedited process.
Testimonies from Secret Service agents mentioned that Trump noticed Rouse before he became visible. Rouse reportedly aimed his rifle at an agent, who then fired, causing Rouse to drop his weapon and flee without discharging it.
Witnesses helped law enforcement by sharing they saw someone running from the scene after hearing gunfire. Subsequently, these witnesses were in a police helicopter on the interstate when Rouse was arrested, confirming he was the individual they had observed.
Just weeks prior to this incident, Trump had experienced an assassination attempt during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, where a gunman fired eight shots, narrowly missing him. The assailant was later killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
Rouse, a North Carolina construction worker who recently moved to Hawaii, has been described as a self-styled mercenary leader. An eyewitness reported that he shared violent plans of getting involved in global conflicts with interested parties.
At the start of the war in Ukraine, Rouse allegedly sought to recruit soldiers from various countries, including Afghanistan and Taiwan. His previous run-ins with the law in Greensboro, North Carolina, included avoiding police stops, leading to arrests involving heavy weaponry.
In a 2010 search of Rouse’s warehouse, authorities discovered over 100 stolen items, including power tools and recreational equipment. For those charges, he received either probation or suspended sentences.
Alongside federal charges, Rouse has also pleaded not guilty to state-level accusations of terrorism and attempted murder.
