Ryan Routh, aged 59, was found guilty of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump during a jury trial in Florida. The conviction came after jurors deliberated for about two hours, leading to Routh's dramatic attempt to stab himself in the neck with a pen in the courtroom. This incident occurred immediately after the verdict was announced, prompting US Marshals to intervene and restrain him. Routh's daughter, Sara, expressed her distress, shouting, "Dad, I love you. Don’t do anything. I will get you out," before being escorted out for calling the trial "rigged."

Routh was convicted on multiple charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Prosecutors presented evidence that he had meticulously planned the attack, including creating a sniper's nest near the sixth green of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where he had been surveilling Trump for over 90 hours. Assistant US Attorney Christopher Browne stated, "There is no doubt — reasonable or otherwise — the defendant intended to kill Donald Trump."

During the trial, Routh represented himself and argued that he never intended to fire his weapon. He claimed that his actions were more of a fantasy than a real plan, stating, "The prime opportunity was there for the defendant to shoot the president. Why was the trigger not pulled?" However, prosecutors countered that he had purchased military-grade weapons and tracked Trump's movements using burner phones.

Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, after a Secret Service agent spotted him with a rifle near the golf course. He fled the scene without firing a shot, but was apprehended shortly after. Following the verdict, Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled Routh's sentencing for December 18, where he faces a potential life sentence. In a statement, Trump praised the conviction, thanking law enforcement for their swift action that prevented the assassination attempt.