Ryan Wesley Routh, the man who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, wrote a shocking letter admitting his failure—and offered a chilling reward for someone else to finish what he started. In the letter, which was addressed to the “World,” Routh confessed that he couldn’t kill Trump but wanted others to try. He even promised to pay $150,000 to anyone who could “complete the job.”
Court papers revealed that Routh left the letter in a box at someone’s house before he was arrested. The person who received the box only opened it after hearing the news of Routh’s arrest. Inside, they found not just the letter but also ammunition, cell phones, and other disturbing documents.
Routh’s arrest happened on September 15, 2024, when he was caught camping near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. He had an SKS-style rifle loaded with 11 rounds, one of which was already in the chamber. He was apparently watching Trump for 12 hours, but a Secret Service agent spotted his gun before he could get close enough. The agent fired at Routh, who fled the scene. Thankfully, Trump was unharmed as he was golfing at the time.
Routh’s letter, along with other evidence found by investigators, convinced prosecutors that he should remain in jail while they build a case against him. They believe Routh is a serious threat, especially because his cellphone records showed he had been tracking Trump for weeks. His phone was found to have connected to cell towers near Trump’s home and golf course multiple times between August and September, suggesting he had been planning this attack for a while.
Court documents also showed that Routh had been obsessively following Trump’s appearances and had notes listing the locations and dates where Trump had spoken and was scheduled to appear in the future.
But the mystery around Routh deepens. Investigators found a notebook with dozens of pages of strange information, including names and phone numbers linked to Ukraine and notes about how to join the ongoing war there. Routh had been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and posted pictures and videos of himself in Kyiv and other places in Ukraine. He had also written several posts on social media criticizing Trump, some of which even hinted at the assassination attempt.
In one of his documents, Routh expressed his anger at Trump’s policies, especially his decision to end relations with Iran. He blamed Trump for causing chaos in the Middle East, calling him unfit to be president and criticizing his character.
Routh, now 58, has no significant assets. During a court appearance, he said he only owns two trucks worth about $1,000. He also claimed to have no savings or retirement fund. Yet, despite this, he somehow managed to fund his assassination attempt and offer a massive $150,000 reward for someone else to finish the job.
Routh faces serious federal charges, including firearms violations, and is being held as prosecutors gather more evidence against him. A detention hearing is scheduled, and his fate will soon be decided.
This shocking incident has raised concerns about Trump’s security, especially since this wasn’t the first time someone had tried to take his life. Back in July, another gunman fired at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania, grazing him in the ear.
The release of Routh’s letter has stirred up controversy, with critics pointing out that it could inspire copycat attempts. Some are even questioning why this letter was made public when other dangerous manifestos, like the one written by the Covenant School shooter, were kept hidden to prevent further violence.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: Routh’s story isn’t over, and the threat to Trump’s safety remains very real. All eyes are now on the upcoming court hearing, where more details about this twisted assassination plot may come to light.
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