17th September, 2024
Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has been charged with two federal counts.
He was charged with possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Trump’s campaign confirmed that the former president was unharmed during the incident.
During a news conference on Monday, Ronald Rowe Jr., the acting director of the U.S. Secret Service, clarified that the suspect “did not have line of sight” on Trump during the incident.
Rowe defended the level of security provided for Trump, despite this being the second apparent assassination attempt, raising concerns about whether the Secret Service can fully protect the former president.
Routh, 58, portrayed himself on social media as a globe-trotting freedom fighter, though his online persona did not align with his real-life activities.
According to a CNN report, Routh ran a small company that built tiny homes in a Honolulu, Hawaii, suburb.
He also frequently wrote letters to local newspapers on issues like homelessness, graffiti, and disputes over hiking trails.
Prior to the alleged assassination attempt, Routh had been vocal on social media, sharing his views on politics and expressing disdain for Trump.
He joined X (formerly known as Twitter) in January 2020 and initially posted about supporting Trump in 2016.
However, his tone shifted dramatically over time. In a 2020 post, Routh criticized Trump, saying, “I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed, and it seems you are getting worse and devolving.”
More recently, Routh took to social media to mock Trump, suggesting his campaign slogan should be “make Americans slaves again.”
He also displayed grandiose behaviour, sending messages to world leaders, including North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, in 2020.
In response to the incident, Trump blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for creating a political environment that fueled Routh’s actions.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Trump claimed the suspect “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”
The investigation into Routh’s motives and actions is ongoing, with authorities closely examining his online activity and connections.
