Ryan Routh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Trump Assassination

Ryan Wesley Routh, the 59-year-old man convicted of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump, was sentenced to life in federal prison on February 4, 2026 for his failed plot during the 2024 campaign.

Routh was found guilty last year in Fort Pierce, Florida, on multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, and several firearms offenses. Prosecutors showed that Routh had spent weeks planning the attack — positioning himself with a semi-automatic rifle at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach and tracking the candidate’s movements before officers intervened.

During his trial in September 2025, Routh represented himself and, in a dramatic courtroom moment, tried to stab himself with a pen after the guilty verdict. For the sentencing hearing, a judge appointed counsel to represent him.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the life sentence, rejecting Routh’s request for a reduced term and adding seven additional years for a firearm conviction. Prosecutors argued his plot was a premeditated attack on American democracy. Defense attorneys had sought a lighter sentence, citing Routh’s age and mental health concerns.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and federal law enforcement officials praised the sentence as a strong statement against political violence, emphasizing that Routh will “never walk free again.” Routh’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal.