The man suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, appeared in a Florida federal court yesterday. He could be seen smiling and laughing during his appearance, according to court reporters.
Routh has a lengthy criminal record and is being charged with illegally owning a firearm while being a convicted felon. He’s also being charged for possessing a gun with a destroyed serial number. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the two charges alone, with more charges likely on the way.
While a motive is still being investigated, Routh appears to be a disillusioned Trump supporter with a history of backing Democratic causes since 2019. He has previously posted online about Trump being a threat to Democracy.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it. Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.”
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is calling on Democrats and the media to soften their language about the former president.