On Tuesday, Ryan Rouse was found guilty on all counts related to his assassination attempt on Trump. However, the New York Times seemingly published the wrong article inadvertently. It’s not uncommon for news organizations to draft potential headlines or obituaries ahead of time, anticipating the outcomes of major events.
But a screenshot revealed the New York Times mistakenly headlined that “it was not a crime to attempt assassinating Trump in Florida.” They also reported a surprising acquittal of Rouse, which was a stark misrepresentation since he was indeed found guilty. The article was set to go to print on September 24, 2025.
Mary Katherine Hamm, a podcaster and contributor, shared her astonishment over the error, tweeting about her search for Rouse’s name in the Times. Meanwhile, Raw Story’s Sarah Barris expressed disbelief that such a verdict could even be considered. The Times quickly updated their piece, correctly stating, “A man has been convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida.” The lead summarized Rouse’s conviction by a federal judge for trying to harm a presidential candidate last September.
A spokesperson for the New York Times clarified that, in preparation for significant events like court verdicts, an incorrect earlier version of the article had been mistakenly published, noting that Rouse was found guilty on five counts.
It’s important to remember that media outlets can, at times, get these major stories wrong. A famous example is the 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune headline proclaiming “Dewey defeats Truman.” Shows like “South Park” have also faced challenges; they sometimes scramble to rewrite episodes to stay current, notably after the Trump-Clinton election in 2016.
Rouse had been charged with several federal counts related to his assassination attempt on Trump at a golf club in West Palm Beach during September 2024, with serious potential sentencing repercussions.
After the verdict was announced, Rouse was reported to have attempted to stab someone with a pen before being subdued by US Marshals.
