Donald Trump Assassination Attempt Ends With Life Sentence for Ryan Routh [WATCH]

Ryan Routh, the man convicted in connection with a 2024 assassination attempt against Donald Trump, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus an additional seven years following his conviction on multiple federal charges, as reported by Fox News.

Routh, 59, was convicted last September on five federal criminal counts, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms-related offenses

The sentencing was handed down in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.

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The case stems from an incident on Sept. 15, 2024, when Trump, then the Republican presidential candidate, was playing golf at his West Palm Beach, Florida, country club.

Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks planning the attack before positioning himself in shrubbery near the course and aiming a rifle in Trump’s direction.

According to trial testimony, a U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to protect Trump spotted Routh before Trump came into view.

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The agent testified that Routh aimed his rifle at him, prompting the agent to open fire. Routh dropped his weapon and fled the scene without firing a shot.

During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Routh spoke in court for approximately 15 minutes.

He revisited themes he raised during the trial, including portraying himself as a good person and referencing what he described as prior efforts in Ukraine to recruit individuals for its military.

Judge Cannon ultimately cut Routh short and proceeded with sentencing. She stated that Routh intended to kill Trump and would have succeeded if not for the actions of the Secret Service agent who disrupted the plot.

Federal prosecutors argued for a life sentence, citing the seriousness of the crimes and the premeditated nature of the attack.

Routh’s defense attorney, Martin Roth, requested a sentence of 20 years in prison in addition to a mandatory seven-year term tied to one of the firearms convictions.

The sentencing hearing had originally been scheduled for December but was delayed after Judge Cannon approved a request to move the date.

The delay followed Routh’s decision to retain legal counsel for the sentencing phase after representing himself during most of the trial proceedings.

Routh’s conviction and sentencing conclude one of the most serious federal cases tied to threats against a presidential candidate during the 2024 election cycle.

The Secret Service agent’s actions during the incident were credited during trial testimony as preventing the assassination attempt from being carried out.

Fox News Digital reporters Breanne Deppisch, Heather Lacy, and Andre Tinoco, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.

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