Man charged with assaulting Trump wants to defend himself

The trial of Ryan Routh (59), who is accused of attempting to murder Donald Trump, has begun in Fort Pierce.

In September 2024, he hid with a rifle on a golf course in Florida where Trump was playing, but was discovered by a Secret Service agent before he could fire.

Although he faces life imprisonment, Routh has decided to defend himself.
He dismissed his lawyers and attempted to turn the court into a platform for his ideological statements.

For example, he proposed an exchange for a prisoner from China.
Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump himself, strictly limited his appearances.

The prosecution wants to prove that Routh had the intent to kill and took concrete steps to achieve this, including preparing a “sniper's nest.”

Routh had voted for Trump in the past but turned away from him after January 6, 2021.

(reuters, red)