Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump earlier this year, has drawn attention again with an incendiary jailhouse letter. The letter, addressed to Politico journalist Ankush Khardori, contains a mix of political diatribes, chilling warnings, and a surprising connection to another would-be assassin.
Routh, currently held at a Miami federal detention center awaiting trial, allegedly attempted to kill Trump at his Florida golf course. In his four-page letter, Routh brands himself the “Alleged Trump Shooter” and lashes out at both the Republican and Democratic parties. He labels Trump a “dictator” and accuses him of undermining American democracy.
Routh’s letter includes a startling claim: he links himself ideologically to Thomas Crooks, another would-be assassin who Secret Service agents killed in July after a sniper attack in Pennsylvania. Trump suffered minor injuries during that attack, but Crooks was fatally shot before he could do further harm.
“We were both ready to die for freedom and democracy,” Routh wrote, aligning his motives with those of Crooks. This connection, though self-proclaimed, has raised new concerns about coordinated threats against high-profile political figures.
The letter goes beyond personal grievances. Routh calls for a radical restructuring of presidential power, claiming that the U.S. military should be placed under congressional control if Trump regains the presidency. “We must limit all Presidential power before Trump seizes our country,” Routh warned.
Routh also outlined hypothetical scenarios, including one in which Kamala Harris becomes president. In this scenario, he urged citizens to “surround the Capitol” to prevent a repeat of the January 6, 2021, attack. He further warned that failure to address political unrest could lead to civil war.
Much of Routh’s letter is devoted to railing against America’s two-party political system. He laments the lack of viable alternatives, describing third parties like the Libertarians and Greens as failed attempts to break the Republican-Democrat dominance. According to Routh, this binary system forces Americans into choosing “flawed candidates,” exacerbating national division.
The accused assassin’s grievances extend to foreign policy, where he harshly criticizes Trump’s decisions in the Middle East. Routh blames Trump for “destroying the MidEast” by pulling out of the Iran Nuclear Deal and accuses him of causing countless deaths in the region. He also demands that Israel halt its military actions and advocates for peace talks with militant groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The charges against Routh are as chilling as his writings. Authorities allege that on September 15, 2024, Routh camped in a sniper’s nest near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club for 12 hours. His position was discovered when Secret Service agents noticed the muzzle of a rifle protruding from the bushes. Agents opened fire, forcing Routh to flee before being apprehended.
Further evidence revealed that Routh had premeditated the attack. Prosecutors disclosed a letter Routh wrote months before the incident, explicitly admitting his intention to kill Trump.
Routh’s connection to Thomas Crooks adds a troubling layer to the case. Crooks was killed during a sniper attack at a Trump campaign event in Pennsylvania earlier this year. Routh’s praise of Crooks and their shared ideology of being “ready to die for freedom” suggests a dangerous alignment of motives.
As Routh awaits trial, his letter has intensified discussions about political violence in America. Critics argue that the polarized political climate fuels extremism, while others point to gaps in security that allow such attempts to occur.
Routh’s trial is likely to garner significant attention as his actions and motives are dissected. His letter provides a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a would-be assassin, revealing a mix of ideological fervor, personal grievances, and calculated plans to disrupt the political status quo.
The Secret Service and other federal agencies continue to investigate whether Routh acted alone or was part of a broader network. Meanwhile, political leaders on both sides of the aisle face renewed pressure to address the toxic environment that seems to inspire such acts of violence.
Routh’s writings, while unsettling, serve as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some individuals are willing to go in the name of their beliefs. As the nation watches this case unfold, the broader implications for security and democracy remain at the forefront.
