Ryan Routh tells judge he’ll represent himself in Trump assassination attempt case

Routh, shackled in court, says he’s firing his lawyers and will act as his own attorney. The judge plans a written ruling as the high-profile trial nears.

JUST A FEW. TODD. CHRIS. THANK YOU. A SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT CONCERNING THE MAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO ASSASSINATE THEN CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP LAST YEAR AT TRUMP’S WEST PALM BEACH GOLF CLUB. RYAN ROUTH NOW SAYS HE WANTS TO FIRE HIS COURT APPOINTED LAWYERS AND REPRESENT HIMSELF GOING FORWARD. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER TERRI PARKER HAS BEEN STUDYING THOSE COURT MOTIONS. SHE JOINS US NOW WITH WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, TERRI. THAT’S RIGHT. RYAN ROUTH FILED A MOTION SAYING HE WANTED TO DISMISS HIS ATTORNEYS TODAY. HE REVEALED IN A FORT PIERCE COURTROOM THAT HE WANTS TO REPRESENT HIMSELF. THIS VIDEO SHOWS RYAN ROUTH ARREST LAST SEPTEMBER ON I-95 IN MARTIN COUNTY. PROSECUTORS SAY A SECRET SERVICE AGENT SPOTTED ROUTH NEAR THE SIX HOLE IN THE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB IN WEST PALM BEACH. AS THE THEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PLAYED ONE HOLE BEHIND, PROSECUTORS ACCUSED ROUTH OF PLANNING THE ATTEMPT FOR WEEKS. THEN HE SPENT 12 HOURS HIDING IN THE SHRUBBERY WITH A MILITARY STYLE RIFLE, WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS SPOTTED HIM. SHOT SEVERAL ROUNDS AND THEN CHASED HIM UNTIL HIS CAR WAS CAPTURED ON I-95. IN COURT TODAY, THE 59 YEAR OLD, SHACKLED AT THE WRIST AND ANKLES, CALMLY TOLD JUDGE AILEEN CANNON HE WANTED TO DISMISS HIS COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS. WHEN CANNON ASKED IF HE WANTED HER TO ASSIGN TWO MORE, HE SAID, I WILL REPRESENT MYSELF. CANNON QUIZ ROUTH. ON HIS BACKGROUND, HE SAID HE HAS A GED, TWO YEARS OF ENGINEERING AT UNC AND HAS ONLY EVER DEFENDED HIMSELF IN TRAFFIC CASES. ROUTH ALSO REVEALED HE’S UNDERGONE TWO MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND ONE DOCTOR CONCLUDED HE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR AN INSANITY DEFENSE. WHEN ASKED IF HE ACCEPTS STAND BY ATTORNEYS FOR ASSISTANCE, ROUTH SAID YES. HIS PUBLIC DEFENDERS DID NOT SPEAK. DURING THE HEARING, JUDGE CANNON SAID SHE WILL ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER SOON. DEFENDANTS DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES, BUT THE TRIAL COURT MUST MAKE SURE THE DEFENDANT UNDERSTANDS THE RISKS OF SELF-REPRESENTATION. WE DON’T KNOW WHY ROUTH IS GOING THIS ROUTE. THE JUDGE HELD PART OF THE HEARING IN PRIVATE SO AS TO NOT VIOLATE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE. RUTH’S TRIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 9TH. THE JUDGE IS ALSO SET TO HEAR ARGUMENTS JULY 22ND ABOUT WHAT EVIDENCE THE JURY WILL BE ALLOWE

Updated: 7:51 AM EDT Jul 11, 2025

Terri Parker

Investigative Reporter

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Ryan Routh tells judge he’ll represent himself in Trump assassination attempt case

Routh, shackled in court, says he’s firing his lawyers and will act as his own attorney. The judge plans a written ruling as the high-profile trial nears.

Updated: 7:51 AM EDT Jul 11, 2025

Terri Parker

Investigative Reporter

Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf club last year, told a federal judge Thursday he wants to dismiss his court-appointed attorneys and to represent himself at trial.The 59-year-old made the announcement during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. Shackled at the wrists and ankles, when asked if he wanted new counsel appointed, Routh calmly told the judge, “No, I will represent myself.”She then questioned him about his background. Routh said he has a GED, completed two years of engineering studies at the University of North Carolina, and has only ever defended himself in traffic cases.Routh also revealed he’s undergone two mental health evaluations. One doctor, he said, determined he does not qualify for an insanity defense.When asked if he would accept standby lawyers to assist him if necessary, Routh said yes. His public defenders did not speak during the hearing, parts of which were held privately to preserve attorney-client privilege.Judge Cannon did not immediately rule on Routh’s request and said she will issue a written order.Routh’s trial is scheduled for Sept. 9. He is accused of planning the attempted assassination for weeks, spending 12 hours hiding in the shrubbery near the 6th hole at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last September. Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent spotted him as Trump played one hole behind, prompting agents to fire several rounds before Routh fled. He was later arrested on Interstate 95 in Martin County.On July 22, the judge will also hear arguments on pretrial motions that could limit what evidence the jury will see, including Routh’s personal writings and alleged good deeds. Prosecutors are seeking to admit a letter where Routh reportedly offered $150,000 to anyone willing to complete the assassination attempt.The trial is expected to draw national attention, especially if Routh is allowed to serve as his own attorney, giving him the right to cross-examine witnesses and deliver opening and closing arguments.Top headlines: Palm Beach County offering assistance up to $100K for first-time homebuyers

FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf club last year, told a federal judge Thursday he wants to dismiss his court-appointed attorneys and to represent himself at trial.

The 59-year-old made the announcement during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. Shackled at the wrists and ankles, when asked if he wanted new counsel appointed, Routh calmly told the judge, “No, I will represent myself.”

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She then questioned him about his background. Routh said he has a GED, completed two years of engineering studies at the University of North Carolina, and has only ever defended himself in traffic cases.

Routh also revealed he’s undergone two mental health evaluations. One doctor, he said, determined he does not qualify for an insanity defense.

When asked if he would accept standby lawyers to assist him if necessary, Routh said yes. His public defenders did not speak during the hearing, parts of which were held privately to preserve attorney-client privilege.

Judge Cannon did not immediately rule on Routh’s request and said she will issue a written order.

Routh’s trial is scheduled for Sept. 9. He is accused of planning the attempted assassination for weeks, spending 12 hours hiding in the shrubbery near the 6th hole at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last September. Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent spotted him as Trump played one hole behind, prompting agents to fire several rounds before Routh fled. He was later arrested on Interstate 95 in Martin County.

On July 22, the judge will also hear arguments on pretrial motions that could limit what evidence the jury will see, including Routh’s personal writings and alleged good deeds. Prosecutors are seeking to admit a letter where Routh reportedly offered $150,000 to anyone willing to complete the assassination attempt.

The trial is expected to draw national attention, especially if Routh is allowed to serve as his own attorney, giving him the right to cross-examine witnesses and deliver opening and closing arguments.

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Palm Beach County offering assistance up to $100K for first-time homebuyers