Trial of Ryan Routh, Accused of Assassination Attempt on Trump, Underway

Ryan Routh, who stands accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump last year at a golf course, is currently in federal court as his trial commences. The media attention surrounding the case is reportedly making the process of selecting a jury more complicated.

Jury selection kicked off on September 8 in Fort Pierce, Florida, and the opening statements are expected later this week. The trial is estimated to last around three to four weeks.

On the second day of jury selection, 120 potential jurors appeared in court. Routh, opting to represent himself, doesn’t have formal legal training, which adds an interesting dynamic to the proceedings.

However, at least 21 potential jurors have already mentioned personal scheduling conflicts or financial issues that might prevent them from serving.

During the questioning process, a juror disclosed to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that her prior support for Trump and familiarity with the case would hinder her ability to be unbiased.

Judge Cannon, who oversaw a previous Trump criminal case, expressed hope of establishing a jury by Wednesday afternoon, with the trial projected to span roughly three weeks.

The jury selection has been somewhat sluggish, complicated by Routh’s requests to ask questions that the judge found irrelevant or overly political. For instance, she barred inquiries about prospective jurors’ opinions on “Palestine,” Trump’s “Greenland” proposal, and even something as unexpected as how they would respond to encountering a “turtle in the road.” Routh had argued that these questions could shed light on character and judgment.

By the conclusion of Monday’s selection, prosecutors eliminated 20 potential jurors due to impartiality concerns, which Routh agreed with, except for one challenge. Nonetheless, he plans to contest seven jurors independently.

The prosecution alleges that Routh had been planning for months. They assert that he was hiding in the bushes at Trump’s Palm Beach golf course on the early morning of September 15, 2025, armed and prepared to take action.

As Trump approached, a Secret Service agent spotted Routh’s weapon sticking out from the foliage and opened fire, causing Routh to flee in search of his car. He was eventually apprehended on a nearby interstate.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, each potentially leading to a life sentence, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and possession of a firearm in relation to a violent crime.

This incident follows last year’s charges against Routh’s adult son, Oran Routh, in a North Carolina federal court for receiving and possessing images of child sexual abuse, according to court records.