Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Man Accused of Attempting to Assassinate Trump

The trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump during a golf game in South Florida last year, opened Monday with jury selection in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Routh, 59, who is representing himself, appeared before 60 potential jurors wearing a gray sports coat, red striped tie, and khaki slacks. “Thank you for being here,” he told the panel, adding, “Sorry for bringing you all in here.” U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over the case, granted Routh’s request to act as his own lawyer but ordered standby counsel to remain in place.

During pretrial discussions, Cannon rejected several of Routh’s proposed jury questions as irrelevant, including queries about Gaza, the U.S. purchase of Greenland, and turtles in the road. Most of the prosecution’s questions were approved.

Jury selection is expected to last three days, with opening statements scheduled for Thursday. The court has set aside four weeks for the trial, though lawyers anticipate it will take less time. Prosecutors plan to begin presenting their case immediately after openings.

The charges stem from a September 15, 2024, incident at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club, where prosecutors say Routh aimed a rifle through shrubbery as Trump approached. A Secret Service agent spotted him, and Routh allegedly pointed the weapon at the agent, who fired in response. Routh dropped the gun and fled but was later arrested with the help of a witness and a police helicopter.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses. He also faces separate state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

Court filings indicate prosecutors intend to introduce photographs of Routh holding the same model of rifle recovered at the scene, along with other evidence.

Routh, a former construction worker from North Carolina who later moved to Hawaii, has a history of brushes with the law. Past cases include a 2002 standoff with police involving a machine gun and explosive device, as well as a 2010 search that uncovered more than 100 stolen goods in a warehouse he owned.

The trial comes less than a year after Trump survived another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, when a gunman fired eight shots, grazing Trump’s ear before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.