Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison, plus 7 years

Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in Florida in September 2024

Published: February 4, 2026 1:25pm

Ryan Routh, the attempted assassin of President Trump, was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison plus seven years.

Routh's sentencing in Fort Pierce, Fla., was initially scheduled for December, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, agreed to move the date later when Routh decided to use an attorney during the sentencing phase, rather than represent himself, Fox News reported.

Routh attempted to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in Florida in September 2024. He was convicted last September on five federal criminal counts, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses.

Prosecutors pushed for Routh to get a life sentence, while his attorney, Martin Roth, asked the judge for 20 years in prison on top of a seven-year, mandatory sentence for one of the gun convictions.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News