LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE: Federal Judge Delivers Crushing Sentence to Ryan Routh for Plotting the Assassination of Donald Trump — Court Declares the Golf Course Ambush a “Deliberate and Evil” Attack That Could Have Changed American History Forever

A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced Ryan Routh to life in prison plus seven years for attempting to assassinate then presidential candidate Donald Trump during a 2024 incident at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club in Florida. The sentence follows Routh’s conviction last September on five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said the attack was deliberate and would have succeeded if not for intervention by a Secret Service agent. “Your plot to kill was deliberate and evil,” Cannon said in court, adding that Routh intended to kill Trump and posed an ongoing threat.

Prosecutors argued Routh spent weeks planning the attack and aimed a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley described the plan as a “cold-blooded concealed kill” meant to prevent Americans from voting.

Defense attorney Martin Roth maintained Routh did not fire his weapon and objected to claims of attempted murder, requesting a lesser sentence. The judge rejected that argument and imposed life without parole, with additional time for a gun conviction.

The case mirrors prior federal prosecutions involving threats to presidential candidates, where courts have emphasized deterrence and public safety. The sentence drew praise from prosecutors and law enforcement, while defense counsel criticized its severity.