Everything we know so far about Donald Trump 'assassination' suspect

On Sunday (September 15), Donald Trump once again became the victim of what authorities are calling an apparent "assassination attempt".

The 78-year-old former POTUS had been playing golf at his Trump International Golf Club at West Palm Beach in Florida, when accompanying Secret Service agents spotted a gunman in the surrounding bushes.

Credit: Anadolu / Getty

After opening fire on the gunman, authorities say he fled the scene in a black Nissan car.

Officers promptly stopped the vehicle on the I-95 highway and he was taken into police custody.

Donald Trump has personally confirmed in an email to his followers that he is "safe and well" following the alarming incident, per BBC News.

As of this writing, the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh.

Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?

Per the New York Post, law enforcement officials have identified the alleged gunman as Ryan Wesley Routh.

At the scene where the gunman was spotted, authorities found an AK-47-style rifle with a scope attached, two backpacks attached to a fence containing ceramic tiles, and a GoPro mounted to the fence, which authorities currently believe was going to be used to record any potential crime.

These items are now being processed.

A photo of the items found where the suspect was spotted. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty

No motive for the incident has been identified at this time, but the FBI and Secret Service are treating it as an apparent "assassination attempt".

Per The Independent, suspect Routh has a lengthy criminal record dating back to - at least - 2002.

That year, state court records show that he was convicted in Guilford County, North Carolina, on one felony count of possession of a weapon of mass destruction. The Greensboro News & Record reports that the charge was brought against Routh as a result of a fully automatic machine gun he had in his possession.

Routh was also reportedly convicted of possession of stolen goods, and sentenced to probation. Further information about these charges is currently unclear, as of this writing.

Ryan Wesley Routh. Credit: Facebook

The outlet adds that a man by the name of Ryan Wesley Routh also fled from police during a traffic stop, leading to a three-hour standoff at a nearby local business, United Roofing.

Public records show that the business was listed under Routh's name, with his LinkedIn profile stating that he relocated the business to Hawaii in 2018.

BBC News adds that Routh had a keen interest in the war in Ukraine, and took part in an interview with Newsweek Romania in 2022, in which, he shared his motivations for supporting the nation.

An emotional Routh described the war as "the most important thing going on in the world today", as she said: "A lot of the other conflicts are grey, but this conflict is definitely black and white, this is good versus evil."

After saying that he had initially intended to "come and fight in Ukraine", he told the interviewer that his "plan B" was to recruit foreign fighters.

"We need thousands and thousands of people fighting with the Ukrainians," he added.

A humanitarian aid worker named Chris Lutz has since told BBC News that Routh's passion for Ukraine was "hyper-focused", adding: "He was trying his best to help Ukraine. But it was getting to an unhealthy level... He also had no rights or powers to recruit for Ukraine’s international legion. It was a complication."

Social media pages appearing to belong to Routh also offer a glimpse to his political views.

The Independent reports that Routh did vote for Trump back in 2016, but tweets on X suggest he had since ceased being a supporter.

Trump became the victim of yet another assassination attempt. Credit: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty

In one tweet, dated July 2020, Routh allegedly wrote: "While you were my choice in [2016], I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate. But we all were greatly disappointment [sic] and it seems you are getting worse and devolving. I will be glad when you gone."

In another tweet from earlier this year, Routh alleged suggested that the Biden-Harris campaign change their slogan to "something like KADAF. Keep America democratic and free".

He added: "Trumps should be MASA …make Americans slaves again master. DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose."

The New York Post adds that Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show Routh has donated small amounts for Democrats running for office - contributing around $140 between September 2019 and March 2020 via the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.

Routh is also a father - with his son, Oran speaking out following his arrest.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Oran said that his father "hates Trump as every reasonable person does", before stating that he doesn't "like Trump either".

Oran added that he's "never known" his father to own a gun or do anything "bat**** like this".

"That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him,” he told the outlet. “He’s not a violent person,” the son added. “He’s a hard worker and a great dad. He’s a great dude, a nice guy, and has worked his whole f*****g life."

Per BBC News, the suspected gunman is currently being held in custody and no official charges have been filed against him yet.

The 58-year-old is expected to appear in front of a judge later today (Monday, September 16).

Featured image credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty